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S. African presidency dismisses allegations against Zuma over chartered plane

Xinhua, September 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

The South African Presidency reiterated on Wednesday that it prefers the use of aircraft within the South African Air Force (SAAF) fleet to transport the President and Deputy President.

Allegations made by aviation experts in the media that President Jacob Zuma prefers chartered aircraft are not true, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

"The President and Deputy President utilise aircraft provided by the SAAF. Currently both the President and Deputy President have been transported in chartered aircraft locally and abroad due to non-availability of reliable aircraft within the SAAF fleet," Ngqulunga said.

The Presidency agrees with the experts that the use of smaller aircraft for local travel and the general use of the SAAF fleet than hiring aircraft would be more cost-effective for the government, he added.

Zuma has been asked by the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) to stop Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula from committing to a 100-million-rand (70 million U.S.dollars) jet for the 2016-17 financial year.

Mapisa-Nqakula insists on getting presidential jet. According to the minister, this aircraft will be obtained within the next 18 months.

The opposition has been trying to stop the purchase of the aircraft at a time of financial difficulties the country is facing. Endit