The Democratic Alliance on Sunday called for a review of policy on the use of the SA Air Force's VIP jets.

This follows revelations that deputy President Jacob Zuma and his entourage had since the beginning of the year spent nearly R12m on flights to domestic destinations on the three South African Air Force VIP planes.

DA defence spokesman Rafeek Shah said these jets should be used for official government business only, "and even then, only in cases where the use of commercial airlines is not viable".

"They should not be used for private business, and they certainly should not be used for party political business."

Shah said it emerged in defence Minister Mosioa Lekota's reply to a parliamentary question by the DA that, from January 31 2003 to October 5 2004 that Zuma and his entourage had spent over R11,7m flying to domestic destinations on a Falcon 50, Falcon 900, and a Citation 550.

He added that Durban featured as a destination on 76 of these flights.

"While the Deputy President has a home in KwaZulu-Natal, the question must still be asked why he flies there so frequently, especially since, on 45 of these flights, he has flown to Durban and then returned to Pretoria on the same day."

Shah said the DA would submit questions to the Office of the Presidency to determine the purpose of these flights.

"While there is no information to suggest that the Deputy President is not using these jets for official government business, the DA will follow this issue up with the Presidency," Shah said.

With acknowledgements to Steven Motale and the Citizen.