Jobs not Jets: “Off-the-books” charters must now also be brought to an end 

27 October 2016

The news that Armscor has cancelled the tender for the long-term lease of a VVIP jet is a step in the right direction. The DA has long been calling for an end to the unnecessary spend on the leasing of VVIP Jets, given that the President’s current jet, Inkwazi, is fit for use.

This is not the end of the road. There must also be an end to the issuing of “off-the-books” charters for VVIP trips. These charters cost taxpayers millions but the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakila, refuses to disclose the amounts being wasted.

The R100 million allocated for this luxury VVIP jet tender, and the additional funds used on charters, is money that could be better spent during difficult economic times, when 8.9 million South Africans are unemployed. It must now be reprioritised in the interests of the South African people.

The DA will now submit parliamentary questions to determine whether Inkwazi will now be used again, and if not, whether any other unnecessary expenditure on the President’s travel is going to be pushed through.

Indeed, contrary to reports by the Minister that Inkwazi was “grounded due to safety reasons”, Inkwazi was recently used for training new pilots for the BBJ, and to fly some senior officers to Langebaanweg Air Force Base and other bases. Added to this, Lt Msimang has not received complaints by the Presidency that Inkwazi is unreliable. 

Furthermore, following an oversight visit to the South African Air Force (SAAF) in Pretoria, the DA can confirm that there is nothing wrong with Inkwazi, except for the routine maintenance repair of “snags”after each flight similar to any commercial airline. 

The President’s travel has become a black hole, costing South Africans hundreds of millions. In our current tight fiscal situation, the SAAF must stand up to the Executive and put an end to this ridiculously wasteful expense.

Issued by Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, 27 October 2016