South African President Jacob Zuma has denied rumours of an affair with the chairwoman of the 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 and a close ally of Zuma, for mismanaging a 1 billion rand ($A86.40 million) deal with Airbus.
Myeni is also executive chairwoman of 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 president's office said in statement on Saturday.
"Rumours about a romance and a child are baseless and are designed to cast aspersions on the president."
