Defence Department overspends by R35 million on VIP flights
28 November 2017
A reply to a DA Parliamentary Question has revealed that the Department of Defence (DOD) has blown their budget for Very Very Important Person (VVIP) flights in the 2015 – 2018 period by R22.5 million and in the 2016/17 year, by an astounding R35 million.
The DOD is mandated to transport the President, Deputy President and other principles in a manner which guarantees their safety as well as ensuring their on-time arrivals for appointments at various destinations, internationally and domestically.
The DA will now ask further Parliamentary Questions to determine exactly which VVIPs were transported, whether or not they were on official business and who accompanied them.
The reply also shows that at least three big-ticket VVIP Charter flights alone collectively cost the Department more than R12.5 million in the 2016/17 financial year.
This is what happens when President Zuma refuses to fly on the perfectly functional Presidential Jet, Inkwazi.
The failing ANC government could have used the R35 million to supply 3 500 flush toilets to indigent communities or built nearly 270 Reconstruction and Development Programme homes.
The DA will not sit idly by while the ANC continues to waste money on luxuries for the political elite at the expense of millions of South Africans who are forced to survive without the most basic of services.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE & MILITARY VETERANS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
2717. Mr S J F Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:
(1) (a) What is her department’s budget for VIP flights in the 2017-18 financial year and (b) what amount did her department spend on VIP flights (i) in the (aa) 2015-16 and (bb) 2016-17 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2017;
(2) (a) what is the total number of VIP flights that her department undertook since 1 April 2017 and (b) what was the cost of each flight? NW3024E
REPLY
|
Fin Year |
Budget for VVIP Charter flights |
Expenditure for VVIP Charter flights |
|
2017/18 |
R 24 992 229.00 |
R 18 430 452.26 |
|
2016/17 |
R 26 880 267.00 |
R 61 078 365.26 |
|
2015/16 |
R 22 875 721.00 |
R 17 775 033.11 |
|
R 74 748 217.00 |
R 97 283 850.63 |
2. (a) what is the total number of VIP flights that her department undertook since 1 April 2017 and (b) what was the cost of each flight? NW 3024
REPLY
VVIP flights for 2017/18
|
Number of Charter flights |
Cost per Charter flight |
|
1 |
R 616 744.00 |
|
2 |
R 1 142 665.14 |
|
3 |
R 908 000.00 |
|
4 |
R 433 516.00 |
|
5 |
R 4 681 500.00 |
|
6 |
R 6 680 000.00 |
|
7 |
R 697 253.70 |
|
8 |
R 755 000.01 |
|
9 |
R 510 000.01 |
|
10 |
R 557 500.00 |
***
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE & MILITARY VETERANS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
2718. Mr S J F Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:
(a) What is the total amount that her department spent on VIP flights for (i) the President and (ii) other dignitaries attending the 9th BRICS Summit held in China from 31 August to 4 September 2017 and (b) from which (i) programme and (ii) sub-programme of her department’s budget were these costs paid in each case? NW3025E
REPLY
The cost for the charter services to BRICS Summit in China is R 6 680 000.00. Funds for this requirement were out of VVI Unit budget for charter flights.
Issued by Parliament, 27 November 2017
ENDS
Issued by Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, 28 November 2017
