SAAF aircraft acquisition: Parliament must step in to ensure a clean process

The South African Air Force (SAAF) requires new transport aircraft to replace the ageing Hercules C130 transport aircraft currently in use. The Airbus A400M was intended to do just this, however, following the controversy surrounding the Airbus deal and its subsequent cancellation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that Parliament must now step in to ensure that there is a "clean" acquisition process for any new aircraft purchased. The fact is that this country cannot afford to be dragged down by another strategic defence package-style corruption scandal.

The original acquisition of transport aircraft - the Airbus A400M strategic heavy lift transport aircraft which was subsequently terminated - ran into trouble in part because the acquisition process was not properly followed. The defence department reportedly did not obtain the necessary exemptions from national treasury to deviate from the standard tender process. This resulted in R2.9 billion being identified as "irregular expenditure" in the 2008/2009 audit of the special defence account.

The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Lindiwe Sisulu, promised that the acquisition process would be "done by the rules". Parliament must now satisfy itself that the acquisition process is in fact being done by the rules. The bottom line is that it is absolutely imperative that the acquisition process is bullet proof and that all the relevant policy, legislation and regulations are complied with by the defence department.

The DA will therefore call on the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Nyami Booi, to schedule a briefing by the defence department on the acquisition process which includes a briefing on:

• the current state of the negotiations to terminate the acquisition of the Airbus A400M transport aircraft;
• the plan to mitigate the risk to the defence industry as a result of the termination of the Airbus A400M transport aircraft; and
• the progress made in the acquisition of new transport aircraft for the South African Air Force.

Statement issued by David Maynier, MP, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of defence and military veterans, July

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