Zuma believed to get a another jet
Date: 20 June 2012
The following is a rough translation of the article that appreared in Die Burger newspaper:
By Erika Gibson
An additional VIP jet is expected to be delivered within the next two weeks for use by the Air Force, but the Department of Defence yesterday denied that they knew of the aircraft.
The Boeing 777, designed to be used with the existing Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) by Pres Jacob Zuma, was apparently recently hired in Seattle in the US.
A high-level delegation of the department was specially flown there to sign the lease.
Measurements were done at 21 Squadron at Waterkloof Air Force Base over the last few days to determine whether the aircraft will fit in the existing hangars.
Pilots have also been identified to undergo conversion on the flight simulator in Seattle, where Boeing's factory.
No tenders for this aircraft was, however, traced on the Armscor website.
Yesterday Siphiwe Dlamini, spokesman for the department, denied the department had any knowledge of the delivery of new aircraft.
Apparently, Boeing has used it and was until recently hired to an overseas airline. It would will be initially be leased with option to buy later.
The planning is that it will mainly be used when Zuma will travel long distances abroad, while the existing Inkwazi jet will be used for shorter flights.
The "new" plane is considerably larger than Inkwazi.
Dlamini said the issue of a further two VIP jets is still undecided, after the contractor dragged the miitary to the high court.
