Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-12-12 Reporter: Boyd Webb Reporter: Angela Quintal

SANDF 'Cannot Afford R4.55m Plane Bill'

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-12-12

Reporter

 Boyd Webb, Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

Bloemfontein : The cash-strapped SA National Defence Force (SANDF) cannot afford Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's R4.55 million flight *1, National Assembly defence committee chairwoman Thandi Tobias said.

"We are watching developments closely because we are worried what will happen if the (defence) department is forced to pay the R4.55m with the financial situation it is in," she said yesterday.

The auditor-general would no doubt give the SANDF another qualified audit "just when we thought we were getting the books on the right track", she said.

Tobias was responding to reports that the deputy president had flown to France and the UK in a jet chartered from Switzerland at a cost of R4.55m.

Mosiuoa Lekota, as defence minister, is responsible for providing President Thabo Mbeki and Mlambo-Ngcuka with transport for official business.

Lekota said he did not authorise the cost of the trip.

Tobias said she would be taking a keen interest in what the board of inquiry - established by Lekota this weekend to investigate the chartering of the plane - would recommend.

"We can't afford to have another qualified audit *2, especially of that amount," she said.

Lekota's spokesman, Sam Mkhwanazi, was unable to say yesterday who would head the inquiry, noting it would be difficult to find an available advocate this close to Christmas.

But he said the board's composition should be announced this week.

With acknowledgements to Boyd Webb, Angela Quintal and Cape Times.


*1       The SA Navy has been moaning about the cost of operating its Kamermam-Klass Korvettes @ about R150 000 per vessel per patrol day.

The Mlambo-Ngcuka R4,55 million jamboree cost just 30 patrol days.


*2      Wait until the auditor-general gets to know about all the other shenanagins in the SANDF.