Phumzile: Who okayed flight?
Jan-Jan Joubert, Beeld
Johannesburg - If there were any irregularities in deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's trip abroad, those who were involved would have to accept responsibility, said President Thabo Mbeki.
This was his response, reported by the SABC on Sunday, to her expensive return trip to Britain by hired jet.
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota confirmed media reports of the cost of the trip, describing it as "irregular" and "shocking".
However, he absolved the deputy president of all blame for the arrangements.
The defence ministry will investigate why its officials spent R4.5m on chartering the plane for the official visit.
Two of the specific matters to be investigated are:
# Did the presidency ask for an intercontinental jet for Mlambo-Ngcuka?
# And, did the charter company have the necessary foreign operators' permit?
Lekota's spokesperson, Sam Mkhwanazi, while not wanting to pre-empt the investigation, said Lekota would finalise the investigative team and its mandate by Monday afternoon.
It is expected that the team will be chaired by someone from outside the defence department.
Wanted to use commercial airline
Beeld broke the story on Saturday, reporting that the plane was chartered from Switzerland, because all available pilots had been assigned to fly President Mbeki to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States.
The revelations and realisation of the cost involved apparently upset the deputy president so much that she wanted to use a commercial airline for the return flight, but Lekota did not want to hear of it.
It is not clear if the presidency insisted on the expensive option of a private jet.
Lekota summoned the media to Waterkloof air force base on Saturday.
He said that, on behalf of the defence department, he accepted full responsibility for the arrangements, and criticised those who were blaming Mlambo-Ngcuka.
"The department has full responsibility for travel arrangements of the deputy president.
'Amount involved is R4.55m'
"Any attempt to blame her or her personnel must be rejected with the contempt it deserves," he said.
"I can confirm that the amount involved is R4.55m.
"Measured by any standards, that's exorbitant - including the established rules that should apply.
Lekota said the amount was not cleared with him, the acting chief of the defence force, or the secretary of defence as accounting officer of the department.
"Something went seriously wrong here. I have decided to appoint a board of inquiry to investigate if there is anything systemically amiss with the arrangement of these flights, so that I can act on it."
He thanked the media for their role in preventing mismanagement of funds.
He said that although he had accused the media, in the past, of damaging the image of the defence force, it was also true that the media could help to rectify mistakes.
Taxpayers' money
"I don't want to shoot the messenger. Maybe that's the way for us to realise what's wrong," said Lekota.
On Sunday, opposition political parties and newspapers condemned the flight as a waste of taxpayers' money.
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the appointment of a commission of inquiry, and said the deputy president should have shown better judgment.
The Freedom Front Plus said it had pointed out earlier this year that there was a shortage of qualified pilots in the defence force. The FF+ said affirmative action was to blame.
News was from www.news24.co.za
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