The defence force and government\u2019s military acquisition arm\u201a Armscor\u201a have gone on the defensive around proposed plans for a new multi-billion rand jet for the presidency.<\/p>\n
Downplaying outcry over the estimated R4-billion cost\u201a Armscor CE\u201a Kevin Wakeford\u201a said he did not know where the figure had come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could never afford something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wakeford\u201a who claimed the media was speaking \u201ctrash\u201d\u201a told a press briefing at Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria on Tuesday that Armscor would never do anything irresponsible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guarantee that.\u201d<\/p>\n
His guarantees come as the Presidency\u201a in a statement on Monday\u201a called for transparency around proposed plans for a new presidential jet.<\/p>\n
Wakeford\u201a together with the chief of the air force\u201a Lieutenant-General Zimpande Msimang\u201a and his deputy\u201a Major-General Gerald Malinga\u201a were addressing the media as outrage over the proposed plans continued to grow.<\/p>\n
Wakeford\u201a highlighting why the aircraft was a necessity\u201a said the need for a reliable aircraft\u201a which would be a national asset\u201a was growing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe driver of this is an important priority. Just look at the trade that we have in Africa. You cannot discount the value of that (trade)\u201a with return on investments being massive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at our trade reach both on the continent\u201a and globally\u201a the crises\u201a we as part of the African Union (AU) mediate in\u201a you can see that a single aircraft is not a reliable solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need it (an aircraft) for the daily realities which we face … urgent meetings in Addis Ababa and AU situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said that people who travelled on such planes were not just sitting back and relaxing. \u201cOnce onboard they work. This certainly isn\u2019t a toy. It is a strategic asset for the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said a reason a commercial airline was not an option was that they did not always fly to all destinations.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecurity is also a big concern. We have to ensure peoples’ safety. It would be breaking classified and secret protocols if we use a charter aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said at the moment all that Armscor was doing was putting out a request for information.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis request is to determine requirements (for such an aircraft). The request for information is to test the market on availability and is not binding.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce all the facts are in place we will liaise with the air force.\u201d<\/p>\n
Msimang said over the past few years the availability of the intercontinental aircraft of the air force had been problematic\u201a \u201cmaking it difficult for the air force to fulfil its responsibilities\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe air force therefore has a need to increase its current capacity to provide intercontinental air transportation to members of the government. The current VIP aircraft cannot sustain the current air transport requests from the air force VIP clients\u201a as tasked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: RDM News Wire<\/em><\/p>\n This is what Zuma\u2019s R4 billion plane could look like<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on South Africa<\/h3>\n