No aircraft other than a sophisticated Gulfstream V intercontinental jet was available to take Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to Sun City this week, Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota said on Saturday.
He lashed out at a report in Beeld that listed alternative planes in the South African Air Force’s fleet that could have been used: a Cessna Citation and a King Air 200.
Those, he said, are used in operations and not for carrying passengers.
”Beeld has misrepresented the situation in the extreme, because the two small planes they refer to are not for the transport of the president, deputy president nor the minister of defence.”
Lekota said that had the air force’s Falcon 900 been available, it would have been used to ferry Mlambo-Ngcuka and her entourage to Sun City.
The deputy president went to open the Women’s World Cup of Golf.
According to Beeld, the 13-minute journey in the Gulfstream — which was chartered — cost taxpayers an estimated R75 000, and use of the alternative planes could have cost less than half that amount.
However, Lekota said that had the Falcon 900 been used, it would have cost the taxpayer the same amount as the Gulfstream, because both planes are the same size.
The type of plane used depends on the size of the entourage, he added.
Reporter ‘should have known better’
Lekota also lashed out at reporter Erika Gibson, saying that as a former member of the old South African Defence Force, she should have known her facts better.
”Apart from anything else, she is one journalist who ought to have known these facts and not allowed for the creation of sensation that has no sense.”
Lekota also said there will be investigations into disloyal members of the air force who sent Gibson information that was effectively a threat to security.
”Last year, I dismissed two people who spoke to her giving her information with implications for the safety of the minister, deputy president or president.”
Lekota said reports on the deputy president’s visit to Abu Dhabi and Sun City have implied she was misusing taxpayers’ money.
”The stories have left the distinct impression in the minds of the public that the deputy president is busy misusing public funds from which a deduction can be drawn that she is corrupt. There is no foundation for this slant.”
Queries
He said the South African National Defence Force is the institution that takes the decision what planes to use, how many crew members to use and all else that goes with these kind of trips.
”Therefore, any queries relating to them should be directed to the Department of Defence.”
Asked why he had taken so long since the Abu Dhabi trip to come forward with explanation, Lekota said he had been away and only just come back to work.
”I have just returned to duty. Questions should have been referred to the defence force, but unfortunately there was miscommunication.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance said on Saturday that it is shocked.
”On the back of her taxpayer-funded R700 000 holiday to the United Arab Emirates, the deputy president has seen fit to spend a further R75 000 on chartering a luxury jet for a 13-minute trip to Sun City to open a sports tournament,” said spokesperson Gareth Morgan.
He said it illustrates that the ruling African National Congress elite is completely out of touch with the plight of ordinary South Africans.
”While local government is in a state of disarray and people are rioting in the streets, the deputy president’s biggest worry seems to be deciding which luxury jet aeroplane she will make her next trip in.” — Sapa