DA to request full suspension of all SAFTA flights 

23 August 2015

I will today write to both the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, and the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, to request that urgent action be taken to suspend all flights at the South African Flight Training Academy (SAFTA), where evidence is mounting of unsafe practices at the school. 

I will also request that they investigate the possibility of suspending the Schools licence.

Recently, one student got lost while flying alone, and for two and a half hours she could not be found by Flight Controllers because her navigation equipment was not working. Students have also been forced to fly in unsafe aircraft against their own wishes. 

After the DA brought these and other practices at the school to its attention, the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) recently told the school to suspend flights, but only those for the students it is funding through the R77m Vukani project. It has also sent an assessor to the school.

But this week clear evidence has emerged that the Head of the School, "Colonel" Nhlanhla Dube, who is known for his extravagant claims about his own role in flying President Zuma's jet, is defiant. 

"Colonel” Nhlanhla Dube has reportedly:

On one occasion refused to allow the DHET evaluator onto the campus;

Continued to allow certain DHET funded students to fly in spite of the ban on flights; and 

Forced students to sign a petition asking for flights to be resumed.

It is unacceptable that in a dangerous profession such as flying, our young students lives are being put at risk and those precious educational funds are being wasted.

Further interventions are needed now by both Departments, so that we can ensure the safety of these particular young Vukani pilots as well as all the others who are being trained in this scarce skill at the school. 

These students should be the focus of professionally managed skills development and training, and not reckless and dangerous practices which put their lives at risk.

Statement issued by Prof Belinda Bozzoli MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education and Training, August 23 2015