The cost of the back-up planes that shadowed President Jacob Zuma on his recent visit to the US is to come under the scrutiny of the auditor-general.
Two planes shadowed the presidential Boeing Business Jet, Inkwazi, when Zuma flew to New York for a UN Security Council meeting.
An SAA Boeing A340-200 shadowed the Inkwazi as far as Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, on the outbound leg.
A second aircraft, a chartered Bombardier Global Express XRS, was on standby in New York and shadowed the presidential jet back to SA at the conclusion of Zuma’s visit.
A tight time schedule and the need to avoid slip-ups were among the reasons given by the SA Air Force in justifying the additional planes.
David Maynier, the DA’s spokesman on defence, has welcomed the auditor-general’s confirmation that the matter is to be looked at.
Maynier wrote to the auditor-general last month asking for an investigation.
In a letter dated February 2 the auditor-general’s office replied that the “matter was already included in the planning for follow-up during the performance phase of the 2011/12 audit”.
The expenditure would be audited “as part of the supply chain management audit, evaluated for compliance with Treasury regulations and reported on to Parliament if required”, the letter said.
Maynier said the use of back-up aircraft to “shadow” Zuma’s Boeing Business Jet had not been properly explained. The SAA Airbus A340-200 is a long-range, four-engined, wide-body jet designed to carry more than 250 passengers.
The Bombardier Global Express XRS is an ultra-long-range executive jet designed for up to 19 passengers.
“We do not have all the facts, but operating the three aircraft may have required up to 16 pilots, two flight engineers and 16 cabin crew and cost more than R10 million,” Maynier said.
Last month, air force chief General Carlo Gagiano said the military had a responsibility to transport Zuma safely and get him to international engagements on time.
“(VIP transport) is extremely complex and important to the international image of the country… Who will make the (UN) speech if the president can’t make it?” Gagiano said.
He said media reports suggesting the air force’s aircraft were unsafe had put the wind up his passengers.
“My passengers are now nervous because they read in the papers how unsafe our planes are… They stress because they think, ‘When is this aircraft going to fall apart?’” - Political Bureau