Police management has rejected as ”absolute nonsense” claims that national commissioner Jackie Selebi has a private jet that eats into the police budget.
Selebi’s office on Wednesday said 63% of all flights made by the Beechjet 400 were directly related to the fight against crime.
”The suggestion that the jet is the national commissioner’s ”private” aircraft and that it is used for the mere transportation of VIPs at the expense of airborne crime-fighting operations is absolute nonsense.”
The Citizen newspaper reported on Wednesday that Selebi had the luxury aircraft set aside for his use. Its running costs, at R5 000 an hour, were reportedly 20 times those of other police aircraft. Meanwhile, the air wing of the SA Police Service was being limited to flying 600 hours or fewer a year, said the newspaper.
Selebi’s office said in a statement only 2,2% of the air wing’s budget was used to operate the Beechjet in the 2002/2003 financial year.
More than 63% of the budget was used for other crime-related flights.
Acquired second-hand by a former police commissioner in 1990, the Beechjet formed part of a fleet of 37 police aircraft.
”The national commissioner is present on less than 10% of Beechjet flights,” said his office. ”When he does make use of the police jet it is for the purposes of travelling for operational planning purposes.”
In terms of cost-efficiency and time management, the Beechjet was sensible mode of transportation, Selebi’s office said.
”The quick response capacity is especially useful to members of the Special Task Force when dealing with hostage situations.”
Selebi’s office contended the aircraft also proved its value during the Cricket World Cup earlier this year. It was used to carry an operational team and equipment to Kenya between February 20 and 26.
”We assisted the Kenyan Police with security arrangements for the match between Kenya and Sri Lanka, resulting in extremely positive publicity for our country.”
Selebi’s office denied the air wing of the police had a crisis with its budget.
It said: ”As in all government departments, measures are in place to ensure that funds are spent in a responsible and accountable manner.” – Sapa