Minister using military helicopter for party problems in Tlokwe
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula recently flew into Tlokwe on a South African Air Force helicopter to receive a memorandum from the South African National Civil Organisation (Sanco) and ANC members relating to party problems in the North West.
On Friday, Sanco and the ANC demanded that a memorandum calling for action against the former mayor of Tlokwe, Maphetle Maphetle be received by President Jacob Zuma. Instead, the Minister of Defence was sent and she arrived in Tlokwe on a South African Air Force helicopter.
This trip was specifically to deal with ANC infighting and had nothing to do with the Department of Defence.
The Minister's use of a military helicopter for a party political engagement is an abuse of state resources. It also contradicts the Ministerial Handbook.
According to the Ministerial Handbook: