The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday strongly criticised Armscor’s ”big-spending bosses” for wasting R3-million on attending arms shows.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu revealed that Armscor board chairperson Popo Molefe, now-suspended CEO Sipho Thomo, and senior staff spent nearly R3-million on attending international defence exhibitions.
DA spokesperson David Maynier said Thomo, in Armscor’s 2008/2009 annual report, complained that Defence Department transfer payments over the past three years amounted to a decrease in real terms, and because of that there was a long-term risk that Armscor might not be able to fulfil its mandate.
Despite this, Armscor bosses had spent nearly R3-million on attending international arms shows all over the world.
Sisulu’s reply showed a total of R2 902 843 was spent on flights, accommodation, transport and others for attending eight defence exhibitions in Malaysia, France, Qatar, Pakistan, South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Brazil and the United Kingdom.
A total of R1 380 503 was spent on flights alone, including first-class and business-class flights.
The most expensive flight was R95 924 for Molefe and his wife to fly to London for the DSEI defence exhibition in London from September 8 to 11 2009.
A total of R1 148 735 was spent on hotels, including five-star hotels such as the Shangri-La in Malaysia and Sheraton Khalidaya in the UAE.
The most expensive hotel stay was R72 792 for Thomo in the Sheraton Khalidaya for the Idex 2009 defence exhibition in the UAE from February 22 to 26 2009.
”Even more shocking is that R12 382 was spent on accommodation for Sipho Thomo at the Radisson [hotel] while attending the AAD defence exhibition in South Africa between September 17 2009 and September 21 2009.”
A total of R197 450 was spent on first-class flights and five-star hotels for General Solly Shoke, chief of the army, who attended the DSA 2008 defence exhibition in Malaysia from April 21 to 24 2009 and the Idex 2009 defence exhibition in the UAE from February 22 to 26 2009.
”Quite why it was necessary for [the] general to attend the defence exhibitions at Armscor’s expense is not clear,” Maynier said.
”The top management at Armscor always complain that they do not get enough money from government, but then rather than tighten their belts, they behave like Fortune 500 fat cats flying first class, inviting spouses and guests along for the ride and staying at five-star hotels.”
The DA would therefore write to National Assembly defence committee chairperson Nyami Booi and ask that acting Armscor CEO Sipho Mkwanazi account to Parliament and provide a briefing on what austerity measures would be put in place to stop wasteful spending at Armscor, he said. — Sapa