Defence minister says jet purchase not cast in stone

Babalo Ndenze

THE SA National Defence Force urgently needs new jets to transport President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe, but the exercise will be properly costed before it gets the green light, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has assured Parliament.

She said it would take at least three months before a “scoping” process was completed and a report was sent to her and the head of the defence force.

Mapisa-Nqakula recently cancelled the acquisition of a Boeing 777-200 long-range aircraft for Zuma and a Global Express 6000 aircraft for Motlanthe – at a reported cost of R2 billion – to make way for a new procurement process.

In the National Assembly yesterday, DA defence spokesman David Maynier asked Mapisa-Nqakula whether the department had started this new process.

“The answer here is no. Although the need to enhance the VVIP transportation of the SA Air Force remains urgent, a new procurement process has not been started by the Department of Defence,” she said.

Mapisa-Nqakula said the air force was still busy with establishing staff requirements and the costs involved.

“This process will take a period of three months. Once that is done, a report will be given to the defence chief and myself on whether we go on or not,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.

Maynier said in a follow-up question that everyone knew the previous minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, was a “big shopper” and had wanted to buy a R2bn jet for Zuma.

“The real question here is whether you think it’s justified to spend billions on VIP jets,” said Maynier.

Mapisa-Nqakula reiterated that the process would be properly costed before a decision was taken on whether to proceed.

Source: IOL