R273,972 per day to be spent on presidential jet

12 September 2016

In response to a parliamentary question the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has indicated that R100 million has been“allocated for the leasing of the VIP-configured jet for the 2016/17 financial year.”

This equates to R273,972 per day for the lease of a presidential jet for Zuma, more than double the price of a first class round-trip to London. 

There can be absolutely no justification for such extravagance while the South African economy is under extraordinary fiscal pressure and facing a potential ratings downgrade. 

If President Zuma is serious about stabilising our economic outlook then he must personally set an example of restraint, and order the Minister not to proceed with plans to lease the aircraft.

Under President Zuma, VIP travel has become a fiscal black hole costing South Africans hundreds of millions. Yet in the latest batch of replies to questions relating to Zuma’s travel costs, the Minister again refused to make the information public for “security reasons.” 

This is a desperate attempt to prevent the public from knowing just how much the President is wasting on luxurious travel considering that under President Mbeki, detailed information about flights was provided to Parliament including the routing, flying hours, landing fees and catering costs for every flight.

President Zuma continues to put himself ahead of ordinary South Africans and remains committed to self-enrichment and the capture of state assets for his personal benefit.

Issued by Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, 12 September 2016