/ 10 November 2012

Sisulu jet reports ‘false and misleading’

Lindiwe Sisulu.
Lindiwe Sisulu.

"Official records in the ministry reflects that minister Sisulu undertook 35 official trips with South African Air Force hired planes between 2009 and 2012," said Sisulu's spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya on Saturday.

"Many of the trips were to and from international destinations or when the South African Air Force Falcon 50 allocated for use to the minister was not available."

Mabaya was responding to a parliamentary submission made by current Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

She told MP's that Sisulu had taken 203 flights with the jets.

Mabaya dismissed the information as false and misleading.

He said Sisulu had always used South African Airways flights for ANC, private and other constituency duties.

"The minister has written to Mapisa-Nqakula, requesting that the parliamentary reply be withdrawn and be corrected as the information submitted misled parliament and the nation," said Mabaya.

Sisulu served as the minister of defence and military from 2009 until 2012. She is currently the minister of public administration. – Sapa