SA just can’t get rid of Dudu Myeni

Some things are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Red wine stains, belly fat and haemorrhoids are just some of the things that can cause serious headaches. And – in the case of the latter two – once removed, there is no guarantee that they will stay gone. And it appears we can add Dudu Myeni to this list. If you’ll recall, it took some doing to remove the controversial South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson from her position at the national carrier, following a series of scandals.

But like belly fat and haemorrhoids, Myeni – a close pal of President Jacob Zuma – seems to be making a comeback.

A report in the Sunday Times yesterday stated Myeni has taken a top job as advisor to Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi, which would see her net more than R1 million a year – this as government is looking into moving SAA from National Treasury to the department of transport.

Maswanganyi defended Myeni’s appointment, saying he needed someone with aviation experience. He also said that she had been “highly recommended”.

Surely, considering that she has been blamed for much of the mess that SAA finds itself in currently, Myeni would be the last candidate any sane person would consider for the job.

In light of this, one can only surmise that the “recommendation” was more likely an instruction from Zuma to manoeuvre Myeni back into the SAA fold.