We need a full-scale parliamentary investigation into the Guptas' use of AFB Waterkloof

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's, statement confirming that the Jet Airways Airbus A300-200, transporting guests to Vega Gupta's wedding at Sun City, landing and use of AFB Waterkloof was unauthorized, is extraordinary.

It confirms that virtually every rule in the book was broken in order to comply with the wishes of the Gupta family who had previously requested the use of AFB Waterkloof.

The Acting Director of the South African Civil Aviation Authority, Poppy Khoza, confirmed to me today that she had not authorised the use of AFB Waterkloof for the landing of the Gupta's Jet Airways Airbus A330-200.

In fact, she did not even receive a request to authorise the use of AFB Waterkloof for "civil aviation purposes" as is required by the Civil Aviation Authority Regulations.

The civil aviation regulations require, when using military aerodromes and heliports, that: 

139.01.2 (1) Subject to the approval of the Minister of Defence, the Director may, upon application in writing by any operator of an aircraft who desires to use a military aerodrome or heliport for civil aviation purposes, authorise the use of the military aerodrome or heliport for such purposes.

(2) An authorisation referred to in sub-regulation(1) may be granted under such conditions and for such period which the Director may determine, if the Director is satisfied that the use of such military aerodrome or heliport by such operator will not jeopardise aviation safety.

This appears to be confirmed by the Minister's statement that she did not authorise the use of AFB Waterkloof.

However, while every rule in the book may have been broken, it is hard to believe that the Chief of State Protocol, Ambassador Vusi Koalane, together with senior military officers, acting on a request from the Indian High Commission, pulled off the landing of the Guptas' Jet Airways Airbus A330-200 at AFB Waterkloof, without political authorisation.

The "rogue officials" explanation is hard to believe and smacks of damage control.

We need to know how it is that the Gupta family was able to effectively hijack the state and secure landing rights and the use of AFB Waterkloof as well as protection from the SAPS VIP Unit.

We welcome the Minister's announcement that there will be a full investigation. However, we need a separate full-scale parliamentary investigation by an ad hoc committee of Parliament to investigate what has become known as "Guptagate".

The Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, Watty Watson, will therefore write on my behalf to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, requesting him to urgently appoint a multi-party ad hoc committee to investigate "Guptagate".

All parties want an investigation. Parliament cannot sit back. Parliament must now act.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, May 2 2013

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