Johannesburg, Dec 13: South African President Jacob Zuma on Saturday denied rumours he had an affair with the chairwoman of state-owned airline amid speculation the relationship had led to the sacking of the finance minister.
Zuma dismissed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene on Wednesday. The minister had earlier rebuked Dudu Myeni, chairwoman of state-owned South African Airways (SAA) and a close ally of Zuma, for mismanaging a 1 billion rand ($87 million) deal with Airbus.
Ms Myeni is also executive chairwoman of Mr Zuma’s charitable trust, the Jacob Zuma Foundation.”Her relationship with the President is purely professional, and is based on the running of the Foundation,” the Presidency said in statement.
“Rumours about a romance and a child are baseless and are designed to cast aspersions on the President.”Zuma replaced Mr Nene with a relatively unknown parliamentarian, David van Rooyen, unnerving investors in an ailing economy whose investment grade status is already at risk. Citing an unnamed government official, Business Report newspaper reported this week that Mr Nene’s dismissal could be linked directly to his fall-out with the SAA board.
Many other local media had also speculated Mr Nene might be moved out after he rebuked Ms Myeni.Rumours of a romantic relationship between Mr Zuma and Ms Myeni have circulated since 2009 when the she was appointed to the board of the ailing national flag carrier.
