Lindiwe Sisulu wasted millions flying ultra-luxury Gulfstream jets
The former Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, wasted millions of rands flying on ultra-luxury Gulfstream executive jets operated by the South African Air Force.
The Gulfstream executive jets are believed to be charted from the private sector and operated by the South African Air Force Reserve Squadrons.
Replies to parliamentary questions reveal that 203 flights were undertaken for the former minister between 2009 and 2012 on ultra-luxury Gulfstream executive jets.
Of the 203 flights undertaken, 69 flights were "ferry flights", where the minister was not actually onboard the aircraft.
During the 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 the 203 flights were undertaken for the former minister as follows:
|
Financial Year |
Flights |
Ferry Flights |
Total |
|
2009/10 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
|
2010/11 |
67 |
33 |
100 |
|
2011/12 |
63 |
28 |
91 |
|
Total |
134 |
69 |
203 |
This amounts to a staggering abuse of public funds by the former minister.
The new Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, has refused to reveal any information about the cost of the flights on the Gulfstream executive jets.
The cost of VIP flights was disclosed in replies to previous parliamentary questions about the flying habits of the former minister.
However, for some reason the cost of the former minister's 203 flights on Gulfstream executive jets is now suddenly "classified information".
This is clearly an attempt to cover up the millions spent on flights undertaken on ultra-luxury Gulfstream jets. We know that more that R40 million was spent on the former minister's VIP flights between 2009 and 2012.
A significant proportion of this is likely to have been spent on flights undertaken on ultra-luxury Gulfstream executive jets.
The former minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, should apologise to the nation for her complete abuse of state resources and staggering waste of public funds.
Thankfully the minister has now been "grounded" in the ministry of public service and administration.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, November 1 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
