Publication	defence THINK!
Date	2006-01-25
Reporter	Leon Engelbrecht

No aircraft other than a sophisticated Gulfstream V intercontinental jet was available to take Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to Sun City this week, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said on  Saturday. He lashed out at a report in Beeld that listed alternative planes in the Air Force's fleet that could have been used: a Cessna Citation and a King Air 200. Those, he said, were used in operations and not for carrying passengers. "Beeld has misrepresented the situation in the extreme, because the two small planes they refer to are not for the transport of the President, Deputy President nor the Minister of Defence *1." On Monday Beeld responded by publishing a picture of Lekota in a Citation flying between Pretoria and Makhado some years ago. The picture was taken by Beeld reporter Erika Gibson. DSD’s correspondent was on the same flight.  

Lekota said that had the Air Force's Falcon 900 been available it would have been used to ferry Mlambo-Ngcuka and her entourage to Sun City. The Deputy President went to open the Women's World Cup Golf Tournament. According to Beeld, the 13 minute journey in the Gulfstream -- which was chartered -- cost tax payers an estimated R75,000 and use of the alternative planes could have cost less than half that amount. However, Lekota said that had the Falcon 900 been used, it would have cost the taxpayer the same amount as the Gulfstream, because both planes were the same size. The type of plane used depended on the size of the entourage, he added.
 
Lekota also lashed out at Gibson, saying that as a former SAAF major, she should have known her facts better. "Apart from anything else she is one journalist who ought to have known these facts and not allowed for the creation of sensation that has no sense." Lekota also said there would be investigations into disloyal members of the air force who sent her information movements that was effectively a threat to security. "Last year I dismissed two people *2 who spoke to her giving her information with implications for the safety of the Minister, Deputy President or President."

Lekota said reports on the deputy president's visit to Abu Dhabi and Sun City had implied she was misusing tax payers’ money. "The stories have left the distinct impression *3 in the minds of the public that the Deputy President is busy misusing public funds from which a deduction can be drawn that she is corrupt. "There is no foundation for this slant". He said the SA National Defence Force was the institution that took the decision what planes to use; how many crew would be used and all that goes with these kind of trips. "Therefore any queries relating to them should be directed to the Department of Defence."

Asked why he had taken so long since the Abu Dhabi trip to come forward with explanation, Lekota said he had been away and only just come back to work. "I have just returned to duty. Questions should have been referred to the Defence Force, but unfortunately there was miscommunication." Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance said on Saturday that it was shocked. "On the back of her taxpayer funded R700,000 holiday to the United Arab Emirates, the Deputy President has seen fit to spend a further R75,000 on chartering a luxury jet for a 13 minute trip to Sun City to open a sports tournament," said spokesman Gareth Morgan, the SA Press Association reported. He said it illustrated that the ruling African National Congress elite was completely out of touch with the plight of ordinary South Africans. "While local government is in a state of disarray and people are rioting in the streets, the Deputy President's biggest worry seems to be deciding which luxury jet aeroplane she will make her next trip *4 in."

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*1  Busted for bullshittin' just once again.

*2  Getting nasty.

*3  It seems that in some among us that indeed they have.

*4  It's a tough old world.