15 Facts About Dudu Myeni

Duduzile "Dudu" Cynthia Myeni was a South African businesswoman, a chairperson of South African Airways SOC Limited, and executive chairperson of the Jacob Zuma Foundation since September 2008.

Dudu Myeni is known for her controversial involvement with South African Airways and as a close friend of former president Jacob Zuma.

Dudu Myeni died from cancer on 14 June 2024, at the age of 60.

Dudu Myeni obtained her Primary Teachers Certificate from Madadeni College and her Secondary Teachers Diploma from Umlazi College.

Dudu Myeni was listed as one of the participants in South African mining company Gold Fields' BEE partner Invictus Consortium.

Dudu Myeni founded a consulting firm Skills Dynamics in 1999 which has facilitated a number of social development programmes on behalf of various Government Departments and major corporations in and around Richards Bay.

Dudu Myeni was first appointed to South African Airway's board of directors in 2009.

Dudu Myeni was appointed chairperson of the board in 2012 following the simultaneous resignation of eight of its fourteen board members including the company's then-chairperson Cheryl Carolus.

In May 2014 Dudu Myeni accused Kalawe of serious governance breaches, an accusation Kalawe disputed, prompting Gigaba to state his "full confidence" in Kalawe following Gigaba's call for the state-owned airline to fix its long-troubled management problems.

In October 2015, without involving South African Airways executives, Dudu Myeni informed Airbus that the airline would be renegotiating the agreement to instead be an outright sale to an unnamed third party that would purchase the planes on SAA's behalf.

OUTA and SAAPA called six witnesses against Dudu Myeni, including four former SAA executives.

In closing argument, the counsel for the plaintiffs, Advocate Carol Steinberg, said during her time at SAA, Ms Dudu Myeni blocked, delayed and obstructed important initiatives to turn the airline around.

Dudu Myeni broke the law and flouted basic governance principles.

On 15 February 2021, Dudu Myeni failed in her attempt to suspend the delinquency order against her.

Dudu Myeni was arrested on fraud and corruption charges in September 2023.