Nene Twist: Was he sacked for saying NO to Al-Bashir?
Johannesburg – Axed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said no to SAA chair Dudu Myeni and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the Mail & Guardian reported on Friday.
It was basically also a no to President Jacob Zuma who had asked, according to Myeni, that South African Airways open a new route to Khartoum in Sudan to show support to "his brother" Al-Bashir.
Nene told Myeni in no uncertain terms that a route to Khartoum would be unprofitable and he would not allow it.
Four months later, in December last year, Nene was fired.
The Mail & Guardian obtained correspondence between Nene and Miyeni about the "proposed operations in Khartoum". Read the full report here.
Al-Bashir visited South Africa in June last year to attend an African Union summit. The government allowed him to leave, despite a court order instructing the South African government to detain him. The International Criminal Court wanted him to stand trial on charges including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. – News24