Defence Minister covers up use of a military helicopter to Tlokwe
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is deliberately covering up the facts on the scandal surrounding the use of a military helicopter to fly to Tlokwe.
The Minister's reply to my parliamentary question, probing her controversial helicopter flight to Tlokwe, is clearly designed to cover up the facts.
First, the Minister obscures the purpose of the helicopter flight to Tlokwe. The Minister now claims that the purpose of her visit was "to deal with a public security matter".
Second, the Minister refused to disclose the full names and positions held by the persons who accompanied her on the helicopter flights to and from Tlokwe. The Minister simply refers to "staff members from the ministry" having accompanied her.
Third, the Minister refuses to disclose the full names and positions held by the persons who she met in Tlokwe. The Minister simply refers to "various community leaders" who she met at a municipal facility.