Ex-SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana remanded in custody after arrest for alleged extortion

JOHANNESBURG - A former South African Airways (SAA) board member has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again next week.

Yakhe Kwinana is accused of committing acts of extortion and malicious damage to property.

It's alleged that the crimes were committed in a small village in East London.

Police said Kwinana was always accompanied by armed men when she allegedly threatened her victims and extorted money from them.

She was arrested on Tuesday after police acted on intelligence information gathered by an inter-provincial task team.

Police spokesperson Nonkululeko Phokane: "What happened in court yesterday, the suspect has been remanded in custody. She will then be appearing on Monday, in East London Magistrates Court to continue with this particular court appearance and this investigation."