IFP weighs in on Gupta issue

The military has impounded a civilian aircraft for violating airspace at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. File photo: Herbert Matimba.

The military has impounded a civilian aircraft for violating airspace at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. File photo: Herbert Matimba.

Published May 2, 2013

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Johannesburg - All departments involved in the landing of a chartered Gupta family aircraft at the Waterkloof Air Force Base should be probed, the IFP said on Thursday.

“All those found to have flouted policies, rules and laws must be held to account. In this particular case the buck stops with the President (Jacob Zuma) and his executive, who must now also be held politically accountable,” the party said in a statement.

The Inkatha Freedom Party said the investigation should not only focus on the international relations department, but must expand to other government departments as well.

“The Waterkloof Air Force base is both a national and international security key-point, which would have required additional authority being granted by other departments.”

Defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Thursday ordered that the aeroplane be removed from the Waterkloof Air Force Base.

Her department had launched its own investigation into the landing of the aeroplane on a military facility.

The SA Revenue Services has also launched an investigation to find out why its customs division was not requested to carry out custom duties at the base when the aeroplane arrived.

The international relations department on Thursday said it suspended its Chief of State Protocol Bruce Koloane while it conducts its own investigation.

The Gupta family, which owns The New Age newspaper and Sahara, is celebrating the wedding of Vega Gupta, 23, to Indian-born Aaskash Jahajgarhia at Sun City, North West. - Sapa

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