Deal for new VIP jet for Zuma moves ahead
Armscor, the acquisition arm of the defence force, has published a tender for the lease of a VIP aircraft for president Jacob Zuma.
This comes after the government body denied that a formal request had been made for a new aircraft for the presidency, according to the Times.
The DA condemned the decision by Armscor to publish a tender, which closes next week, as it believes that such a procurement is wasteful and an insult to poor South Africans.
The presidency has recently noted several instances where both the president, and deputy president have been hampered by the current transport available.
The South African National Defence Force recently said that the current plane is compromising the safety of the president, calling it “embarrassing”.
The DA however, maintains that there is no need to acquire a new presidential jet so long as the current jet, Inkwazi, remains underutilised and other alternatives, such as commercial travel, represent a viable alternative.
“The decision to proceed with the lease of another presidential jet yet again shows that President Zuma and the ANC put themselves first and the people of South Africa second,” said Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans.
On Friday 22 April, Armscor published the tender following their Request for Information (RFI) last year.
“While the exact specifications for the new tender are not publically available, the RFI stipulated a luxurious aircraft with an interior that meets VIP standards and has a range of 5,500 nautical miles non-stop with 18 passengers on-board, or 7,200 nautical miles non-stop with 30 passengers on-board,” Marais said.
The DA said it will be submitting parliamentary questions relating to the tender, including the specifications of the jet in question and the budgeted cost for the tender.
According to the Times, Armscor spokesman Lulu Mzili told the paper two weeks ago that there was no requirement for VIP aircraft. However the request for a new plane had been made since then.
Mzili said that the short time that the tender had been put on offer for was not unusual.
“It is an interim measure as acquisitions are lengthy processes,” she said.
Armscor aims to eventually acquire a VIP jet for the president which could cost up to R4 billion.
More on the presidential jet
R4 billion Zuma jet back on the cards after ’embarrassing’ old one breaks down
Zuma jet a ‘strategic asset’ not a toy
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