DA: Presidency exploiting presidential handbook to use state resources for ANC business

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said that the Presidency was exploiting the presidential and ministerial handbooks to use state resources for African National Congress (ANC) party business. 

This follows a weekend City Press report that revealed an SA Air Force jet was used to fly between Cape Town, Waterkloof and Mbombela ten times to shuttle the president, his deputy and other ANC officials to the party’s birthday activities in Mpumalanga. 

DA MP Kobus Marais said the Presidency was using the already dilapidated resources of the defence force as a personal taxi service. 

Flight records for the SA Air Force’s Falcon 50 jet shows that it made ten trips between 5 and 15 January, either leaving from or landing at Mbombela, while using the deputy president’s call sign. 

The presidential handbook allows the president and his deputy to make use of military aircraft and to invite passengers who are not state officials  if they sign an indemnity. 

Meanwhile, the ministerial handbook allows state officials to use the military aircraft to travel for political activities if it coincides with their official duties.

But Marais said this was an exploitation of the defence force’s already cash-strapped operations.

"We expected the commander-in-chief to show better judgement. Their behaviour is not only irresponsible and inappropriate, they show unbridled abuse of state resources." 

According to Marais, more than 85% of the air force’s aircraft are grounded because there’s no money to maintain them. 

He said the defence force is being deprived of funding to allow it to effectively protect the country as required by the Constitution.