Public protector asked to probe Sisulu flight allegations

The Congress of South African Trade Union is shocked at allegations that the South African Air Force was spending up to R68 000 an hour to fly the former minister of defence and military veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu.

It is alleged by ‘military sources' that the Air Force was frequently chartering luxurious Gulfstream jets for flights to from Pretoria to Cape Town and back on the same day. The Mail & Guardian was informed that a return flight from Lanseria via the Waterkloof Air Force Base on the outskirts of Pretoria to Ysterplaat in Cape Town on a Gulfstream jet cost more than R200 000, excluding the cost of the pilot and crew, food and landing costs.

This compares to the current price for a return trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town of just R4 899 at current prices.

COSATU is to approach the Public Protector to investigate what, if true, amounts to -a monstrous waste of public funds by an elected public representative.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, November 12 2012

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