The South African High Court has given Duduzile Cynthia Myeni, also known as Dudu, until Wednesday to file an application for the postponement of her delinquent director court case, after she again failed to appear in court in Pretoria on Tuesday, 8th October.

The order was made by a High Court in Pretoria after hearing from her former lawyer, Daniel Mantsha, who made an unexpected appearance on her behalf.

The South African businesswoman, former chairperson of South African Airways SOC Limited, and the Executive Chairperson of the Jacob G Zuma Foundation, also failed to appear before the court on Monday, 7th October.

Dudu Myeni led the national flag carrier’s board between December 2012 and October 2017. During this period the airline faced financial instability, growing debt and operational challenges.

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse and SAA Pilots Association want the court to declare her a delinquent director, based on her leadership during the period. If the court rules in favour of the application, she will no longer able to act as a company director.

Advocate Carol Steinberg, legal counsel for the applicants, stated that one of the reasons given by Myeni for her inability to afford legal services was that she had been waiting for a liability insurance claim for SAA directors to cover the costs. It later emerged that the claim was only lodged last week Friday. Other reasons for her no-show include that she is not in a position to pay for petrol or accommodation to allow her to travel from her current home in KwaZulu-Natal to attend the case.