Reply to my parliamentary question on Lindiwe Sisulu's VIP flights or suffer the consequences in Parliament
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has ten working days to reply to my parliamentary question on her predecessor's abuse of military aircrafts, including a privately owned ultra-luxury Gulfstream executive jet, or I will use my parliamentary privilege and disclose the information in Parliament.
I have today re-submitted my parliamentary question on the use of military aircrafts by former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu.
The question, which was first submitted on 22 February 2013, is as follows:
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Mr D J Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans: 1. How many (a) flights and (b) ferry flights were undertaken by her predecessor using (i) chartered aircraft and (ii)(aa) a Gulfstream Executive Jet and (bb) any other specified aircraft operated by the (aaa) SA Air Force and (bbb) SA Air Force Reserve in the (aaaa) 2009-10, (bbbb) 2010-11 and (cccc) 2011-12 financial years; 2. What (a) was the cost and (b) is the breakdown of the cost for each specified flight in each specified financial year? |
However, for nearly a year the Minister has refused to reply to my parliamentary question despite:
Two letters from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, requesting Deputy-President Kgalema Motlanthe, Leader of Government Business in Parliament, to ensure that the Minister replies to my parliamentary question; and
National Assembly Rule 114 requiring the Minister to reply to an oral question in writing by 12h00 on the day after Peace and Security Cluster Question Time in Parliament.
The Minister clearly has no respect for the authority of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu and the rules of Parliament.
I have now had enough: if the Minister does not reply to my parliamentary question within ten working days, I will use my parliamentary privilege and begin disclosing the information in Parliament.
I will reveal details including: the departure point, the arrival point, the aircraft type used, and the estimated costs of the flights by former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu.
The information, which I will disclose, will clearly establish that Lindiwe Sisulu abused her position and treated the air force like her personal airborne taxi service.
The Minister has a simple choice: reply to my parliamentary question in ten working days or suffer the consequences in Parliament.
It's her choice.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, February 10 2014
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