New York - Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has explained the reason behind the use of a private jet to fly President Jacob Zuma to the 69th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
The Minister called on South Africans not to attach a price on the life of the President.
She was reacting to criticism after the Department of Defence hired the private jet to transport President Zuma and his delegation on a working visit to New York. The President could not use the Presidential aircraft, Inkwazi, since it was declared unfit to fly.
Speaking to SAnews on the sidelines of the UNGA, Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said government had no choice but to ensure the President travels safely to New York.
“The President’s aircraft has been a subject of discussion for a very long time. South Africans will recall that last year, I made an undertaking that we will buy a VIP aircraft. That was necessitated by the fact that the current aircraft has many years and in fact, I cannot understand why when we fly the President in a private aircraft that will be an issue.
“I do not think it would be wise of us to allow the President to use the Presidential aircraft when we are told it’s unserviceable,” Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said.
“I do not think the South African National Defence Force would like to put the life of the President in danger when an aircraft is declared unserviceable and we allow the President, who is the commander-in-chief, to use that aircraft.”
The Minister also explained that for security and logistical reasons, the President could not fly on commercial flights, hence the use of the private jet.
“Even for Presidents before him, there were moments when aircrafts would be chattered if it was necessary to do so in order for them to fly to whatever destination. It should not be an issue of the amount of money; you cannot attach money to the life of a person, especially if that person is the President of the country.
“If anything, South Africans should be debating what we are doing to purchase new aircrafts to ensure that the life of the President and everybody else we look after is not endangered,” Minister Mapisa-Nqakula said.
President Jacob Zuma is one of more than 120 Heads of state and Government, who are in New York to participate in this year’s UN General Assembly. He delivered his speech to the assembly on Wednesday night. – SAnews.gov.za
