Myeni axed at SAA board
“It is very sad that lives were lost and I was part of it,” Noyile said.
In February, Gauteng Premier David Makhura suspended head of department Barney Selebano in the wake of recommendations by Makgoba, following the death of psychiatric patients.
Then Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu resigned. At the time, Makgoba’s damning report found that as many as 94 mentally ill patients who were transferred from Esidimeni died of causes that included neglect and starvation.
The death toll figure rose over time as more information was discovered by Makgoba, bringing the number of deaths to 118.
The figure rose again to 141 as acting head Dr Ernest Kenoshi testified at the arbitration. Another 59 mentally ill patients are yet to be located.
The department said the reasons behind the termination of the Esidimeni contract was to cut costs and put the contract out to tender.
However, the marathon project has since become costly as the department returned patients to Esidimeni in an effort to manage the crisis, resulting in the government paying more for the service than it initially did. The hearings continue. – ANA FINANCE Minister Malusi Gigaba confirmed the departure of Dudu Myeni as South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson and the appointment of six new board members, including JB Magwaza as chairperson.
Gigaba said the changes would be effective from November 3, when he would hold a special meeting with the board.
He said he hoped the new board, together with incoming chief executive Vuyani Jarana, would return the airline to financial stability,
“The new board is well experienced and diverse and the minister encourages them to ignore the political noise and focus on the business of strengthening SAA,” National Treasury said.
Sources close to the minister said he had “pushed very hard” for the appointment of a new chairman, amid growing frustration from financial and political quarters with Myeni.