DA to probe VIP back-up flights for President Jacob Zuma
The provision of "VIP" flights by the South African Air Force (SAAF) is becoming murkier by the day.
Last week President Jacob Zuma was transported on "Inkwazi", the presidential Boeing Business Jet, to the United States. The President travelled to the United States ahead of South Africa assuming the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council. The Boeing Business Jet is operated by the SAAF's Squadron 21 and is back in service after three months of maintenance in Europe.
However, the second aircraft - a Bombadier Global Express XRS - was reportedly chartered from a private company to "shadow" the presidential Boeing Business Jet. The second aircraft was reportedly used as a back-up in case mechanical failures were experienced by the presidential Boeing Business Jet.
This is reportedly not common practice and raises a number of questions, including: