Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has confirmed that president Jacob Zuma will get a new jet plane to replace Inkwazi, and that R300 million has been budgeted for the purchase.<\/p>\n
The minister was speaking at the Africa Aerospace and Defence show in Pretoria on Tuesday when she confirmed the news, according to TimesLive<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to the minister, the plane will be procured and delivered within the next 18 months – until then, government will continue to lease out a private jet for the president, with R100 million set aside for that purpose as previously reported.<\/p>\n Mapisa-Nqakula criticised the controversy around the new plane plans, hitting back at those who claimed that Inkwazi, the president’s current plane, was fine.<\/p>\n “There are issues with it. It’s 15 years old. Three years ago it was flying 300 hours annually, now it flies 600 hours. The need for a replacement is urgent and is non-negotiable,” the minister said.<\/p>\n Mapisa-Nqakula also dismissed claims that the new plane would cost R4 billion, saying that the department did not have that kind of money to spend.<\/p>\n Analysts and plane experts maintain that Inkwazi is in perfectly good condition and nowhere near the end of its lifespan.<\/p>\n Aviation expert, Darren Olivier,\u00a0said that\u00a0Inkwazi has flown fewer than 10,000 flight cycles and is accumulating them at far fewer than 1,000 a year.<\/p>\n “It can keep flying for decades before it becomes unsafe,” he said.<\/p>\n South African National Defence Union leader Pikkie Greeff said maintenance staff had assured him there is absolutely nothing wrong with Inkwazi.<\/p>\n “This aircraft is in 100% condition and it\u2019s sitting there gathering dust,” he said.<\/p>\n The defence minister\u00a0said that the department is “not prepared to negotiate with the lives of our principals”.<\/p>\n “This aircraft will be obtained and it will be obtained within the next 18 months. The negotiations for this are under way,” she said.<\/p>\n Zuma abandons old jet over fear of sabotage: report<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Deal for new VIP jet for Zuma moves ahead<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on the presidential jet<\/h3>\n