Pretoria - Government says it has noted what it described as “misleading versions” of media reports that President Jacob Zuma was involved in the unauthorised landing of a private plane at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in May.
“Government dismisses these allegations as false and unfounded,” said Acting Government Communications (GCIS) CEO Phumla Williams on Thursday.
According to media reports, two of five South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members charged before a military court in connection with the landing of a private aircraft at Waterkloof in April, implicated Zuma in sworn affidavits. The media quoted an excerpt from a Lt-Col Christine Anderson's sworn affidavit presented at the military tribunal probing the incident.
But Williams said the media reports did not reflect any new evidence. They instead report on information that was already in the public domain.
Government had investigated the violations of the security protocol and disregard of established practice for clearing the landing of the civilian aircraft at a military facility.
“The team of Directors-General, who probed the incident, had considered all aspects and had communicated that President Jacob Zuma was not in any way linked to the unauthorised landing of the aircraft,” Williams said.
“The investigation revealed that influential names were deceptively used in order to allow the plane to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base. This is not new information as portrayed by the media,” she said.
The findings of the investigation on the incident clearly revealed that members of the National Executive did not issue any instructions, and did not create the impression that they ought to have issued any instructions, Williams said.
“Government reiterates that the determinations made by the high-level investigating team were based on facts and not hearsay information. All South Africans are assured that security protocols are continuously strengthened to avoid a similar incident.” – SAnews.gov.za
