Use of Police Jet by Top Management Is Justified and an Efficient Mode of Transport
Today, in a written response to a DA question to Parliament, the Minister of Police submitted that between 3 August 2009 and 30 May 2011, the National Commissioner of Police has undertaken 47 trips on the jet owned by the South African Police Service. The total cost of these trips amounted to R1 498 300.
The facts that are being blatantly ignored by certain individuals are:
General Cele never undertakes such trips on his own - he is always accompanied by members of his top management, therefore there are usually eight (8) passengers on the jet. Should General Cele undertake a trip on his own he will utilize a commercial airline.
These trips are often undertaken on very short notice and commercial flights are not always available to transport the National Commissioner and senior officers to the destination where they have to perform official duties.
When top management has to attend official duties out of Gauteng and return to Head Office for other commitments on the same day, the use of the police-owned jet is more economical in terms of time spent travelling to and from international airports as well as waiting for flights.