Johannesburg - Businessman Jayendra Naidoo has refuted allegations that he had discussions with former president Jacob Zuma regarding his company, First South Financial Services, receiving preferential treatment for bids at the national carrier, SAA.
She told the commission that Naidoo had informed SAA’s then chief financial officer, Wolf Meyer, that his company had Zuma’s blessing to be part of the deal. Naidoo’s company had been gunning for a share of SAA’s R15 billion capital-raising initiative in 2015/16. In a statement on Tuesday, Naidoo said Stimpel’s evidence was hearsay and said he was disappointed he had not been alerted that his name would be mentioned at the inquiry.
“Mr Naidoo rejects any suggestion that he or First South received any support from Mr Zuma of whatsoever nature. Mr Naidoo regrets that he was not given advance notice of the evidence of Ms Stimpel, as required in terms of the Rules governing the proceedings of the commission. Mr Naidoo’s lawyers have written to the Commission to place this on record,” he said in a statement.