Pretoria - The officials involved in coordinating the landing of the A330 Airbus aircraft belonging to Jet Airways at Waterkloof Air Force Base earlier this week have been put on compulsory/special leave.
And, in addition, two Metro Police officers and one police reservist were arrested yesterday.
This was announced by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe, at a special media briefing in Pretoria on Friday to address the unauthorised landing of an Indian delegation in a private plane at the Waterkloof Air Force Base. The at least two hundred passengers on the aircraft had arrived in the country to attend the Gupta family wedding in Sun City.
The officials include the Chief of State Protocol at DIRCO, Ambassador B. Koloane, Officer Commanding Air Force Command post: Brig Gen L Lombard, Officer Commanding Air Force Base: Brig Gen TS Madumane Movement Control Officer: Lt Col C Anderson from the SANDF and Major General Gela, SAPS Operational Response Services Gauteng Province.
Radebe said the officials were placed on special leave following an investigation by government into what he described as "a security breach."
“Government is gravely concerned at this violation of the security protocol and total disregard of established practice for clearing the landing of aircraft in a military facility that is of strategic importance to the country.
“Our particular concern is that the aircraft was carrying international passengers who do not fit the category of government officials or VIPs on official duty,” he said.
The minister said government had appointed a team of Directors-General to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the incident. The team will report back in seven days.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Thursday had meanwhile instructed National Commissioner of Police, Riah Phiyega, to investigate whether any transgressions occurred through providing unauthorised support to these visitors from Waterkloof to Sun City.
He said the Police Minister had provided the following preliminary findings:
- The Indian delegation convoy, which comprised black BMWs fitted with emergency lights, were not SAPS vehicles.
- These vehicles were identified as hired from S&M Transportation in Pretoria. A criminal case has been registered against the owner for illegally using the emergency lights and fitting false registration plates. The investigation is continuing.
- It has also been established that some members of the contracted security company are members of both the SAPS and Tshwane Metro Police.
The two Metro Police officers and one police reservist were arrested yesterday while the involvement of marked SAPS vehicles is still under investigation. – SAnews.gov.za
