Share

New presidential jet will make Nkandla seem like child's play - Maimane

Johannesburg - A new presidential aircraft will make Nkandla seem like child's play, DA leader Mmusi Maimane said on Thursday.

“Nkandla as a project is only a quarter of a billion. Times that by over 16 times. These are lavish expenses that South Africans don’t need,” he told reporters in Johannesburg.

Maimane was presenting the party's presidential handbook. In it the DA calls for the establishment of a parliamentary committee to oversee the presidency.

He believed the presidential jet Inkwazi had still not reached the end of its use.

“As far as airline standards are concerned, Inkwazi is still a very good plane. It still has a life, so long as it is maintained.”

The party had asked for the plane’s flight logs, going as far as asking the director general of the defence department, but had been refused access to them.

Instead of spending between R2 billion and R4bn on a new jet, the money could be used to fund students, Maimane said.

“You can't rob the people of South Africa. It is defrauding the poor. This matter's timing is crucial." 

In 2015, Zuma faced intense criticism following reports that R4bn would be spent on acquiring a new plane for himself and his entourage.

The luxury jet would reportedly have a conference room, bathroom, and private bedroom, and accommodate 30 passengers.

Mosiuoa Lekota, who was defence minister when Inkwazi was bought 15 years ago, said it cost R300m, plus another R108m to fit and decorate the interior, according to News24's archive.

During the outcry over Zuma's R4bn jet, University of Pretoria politics lecturer Roland Henwood told News24 that only US President Barack Obama had a better plane than Zuma.

"There are world leaders who have presidential jets, but they are business jets. They are much smaller than what he [Zuma] has at this stage," Henwood said.

"Only President Obama has a better aircraft."

 

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
41% - 536 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
59% - 763 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.89
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.82
+0.3%
Rand - Euro
20.37
+0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.3%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE