NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION: 2757

Mr DJ Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:

1.(a) What type of aircraft was chartered to fly Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to New Zealand to attend the opening of the Rugby Wworld Cup, (b) why was it necessary to charter an aircraft and (c) what is the name of the is the preferred service provider that is used by her Department for the hiring of vehicles and (b) why is the specified service provider preferred;

2. What were the (a) (i) dates and (ii) places of (aa) departure and (bb) arrival and (b) names of the passengers on the aircraft.

3. What was the total (a) total cost and (b) breakdown of such costs of each flight;

4. Whether the aircraft had to perform an emergency landing; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

5. Whether she will make a statement on the matter. (NW3219E)

RESPONSE

1. (a) Global Express aircraft was used.

(b) The SA Air Force has only one long-range inter-continental aircraft, namely, the Boeing Business Jet which is reserved for the President. It is therefore standard practice to charter this capability as and when required. This is done in terms of National Treasury Contract RT 61.

(c) The aircraft was chartered from ExecuJet Aviation Group.

2. (a) The responses are:

• 8 September: Waterkloof Air Base to Perth.
• 9 September: Perth to Auckland.
• 10 September: Auckland to Wellington.
• 11September: Wellington to Perth.
• 12 September: Perth to Waterkloof Air Base.

(b) The Deputy President was travelling with passengers allocated by the Office of the President. The SAAF is not at liberty this answer on behalf of the Office of the Deputy President.

3. (a) The total cost was R3 096 599.

(b) The costs are broken down as follows:

• Aircraft hire: R26 253 378
• Recoverable costs (relief crew, commercial flights, aircraft tracking, etc.: R471 214.

4. There was no emergency landing. During the approach to Wellington a cautionary light activated regarding the temperature of one of the four main wheels. The crew elected to terminate the approach so that a full checklist could be followed to ensure that they executed safe landing could be executed. At no stage was an emergency declared and the aircraft executed a normal landing without any incident.

5. No

Issued by Parliament, October 7 2011

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