Former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni. (Deon Raath/Rapport/Gallo Images)
The Investigating Directorate and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) arrested former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni and Sondolo IT director Trevor Mathenjwa on Friday in connection with R300 000 corruption charges involving services firm Bosasa.
The pair handed themselves over at the Richards Bay police station at 8am by prior arrangement with their attorneys before appearing in court, Investigating Directorate spokesperson Sindisiwe Seboka said. Myeni is facing charges of corruption and fraud while Mathenjwa is facing charges of corruption.
Seboka said this marked the fourth case linked to the corruption trial of former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi, who was on Thursday referred for mental health observation by Pretoria high court to ascertain his fitness to stand trial.
During Myeni’s tenure as chairperson of SAA, she had a legal duty to disclose her interests in terms of the national carrier’s conflict of interest policy, which she allegedly failed to do, Seboka said.
“Myeni stands accused of corruption for receiving gratification from Bosasa subsidiary Sondolo IT, offered by Trevor Mathenjwa, the company’s former director. Myeni is accused of having received security upgrades for her Richards Bay premises during May 2014 to March 2015, to the value of R200 000.
Former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni and Sondolo IT director Trevor Mathenjwa appear in the Richards Bay magistrate’s court.
“She is further accused of benefiting from hotel accommodation and travel expenses for her and persons close to her, from Bosasa, facilitated by Blake Travels, between May 2014 and March 2015 for over R107 000.”
Myeni and Mathenjwa were released on R10 000 bail each. The matter will return to court on 17 November for disclosure of the case docket.
Meanwhile, Agrizzi appeared virtually before Pretoria high court Judge David Makhoba, who ruled that he be referred for mental observation to determine his fitness to stand trial in a R1.8 billion case involving Bosasa and the department of correctional services.
Makhoba said it was not for the court to decide whether a person is mentally fit to stand trial but rather for professionals to decide. He said it was the state’s responsibility to ensure that Agrizzi was safely taken to a mental institution and that he took his medication.
The matter relates to four tenders awarded to Bosasa and its subsidiaries from August 2004 to 2007. The tender was for rendering catering and training services, installation of CCTV cameras, installing perimeter fencing and supplying a television system and monitoring equipment.
The matter was postponed to 31 October.