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"Everything was done by the book" in the hiring of a private chartered flight for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's official trip to Japan at the weekend, according to South African Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Friday.Brushing aside criticism of possible corrupting in the hiring of the jet plane run by the Gupta Family and Duduzane Zuma, son of President Jacob Zuma, the minister told a media briefing: “Everything was done by the book in the hiring of the place for the Deputy President. People (critics) aren't looking at the processes but the owners of the flight.�
The minister detailed the processes involved when government hires a private charter flight for the country's VVIPs like the President, Deputy President or ministers.
These requirements, she said, may include the number of passengers, nature of destination and length of travel.
However, should the VVIP squadron of the SAAF, which maintains and operates its own fleet of aircraft, not be available for any reason such as maintenance or not suitable for the specific requirements of a particular travel, the rule is that a suitable aircraft may be chartered.
“For the recent visit (to Japan) of the Deputy President, the requirements were received by the SAAF. Two of the important requirements during this flight were that there must be a minimum of fuel stops en route and that there should be adequate rest/sleeping facilities for the Principal,� and these were met by ExecuJet, Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Duduzane and the Gupta Family (close friends of President Zuma) who own the ExecuJet were hired because the SAAF Boeing 737 (BBJ) which meets all the requirements, was not available as it was being used by President Jacob Zuma, she added.
As such the minister said there was nothing wrong with hiring a chartered flight, and told the media to stop creating a crisis where there was none.
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Source: S/Africa: VP's private jet hire "by the book"
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