Questions on Ramaphosa’s use of private Gupta jet need to be answered

26 August 2015

The DA will investigate reports in the media today that Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Ministers and Deputy Ministers, made use of a leased private plane that belongs to the Gupta family, for his trip to Japan last weekend (see EWN report).

With the Gupta family’s close links to high-ranking ANC members, including President Zuma, this use of public money deserves urgent investigation. This is especially the case given the Guptagate Scandal last year – where the Gupta family landed at the Waterkloof Airforce base - with the reported permission of ‘Number One’. 

The DA will therefore submit Parliamentary questions to the Minister of Defence, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to establish: 

- exactly why the Deputy President had to make use of a private charter plane when he has a state allocated one; 

- why the Deputy President and the delegation did not make use of the National Airline, South African Airways (SAA), which flies to two destinations in Japan every week;

- whether ExecuJet, which is an approved supplier, adhered to its contractual obligations in regards to the leasing of the plane; and 

- what the total cost of these flights was, considering it will, more than likely be billed to ordinary taxpayers. 

According to reports, Bombardier Aerospace was hired by the Department of Defence (DoD), through a government-managed contract with service provider ExecuJet, which then provided the Gupta-owned private jet for the trip. The plane left the Waterkloof Air Force Base last Friday night, under the call sign ‘South Africa 2’, which is reserved for the Deputy President.

The DoD claims they had no idea the plane belonged to the Guptas, saying that the leasing of planes - when the government planes are not available - is done through a central contract managed by the government through National Treasury.

Given the fact that the Gupta’s are yet again involved with the Waterkloof Air Force Base, the questions surrounding this must be answered fully and urgently in the interests of transparency. 

With our economy in a dire condition, and unemployment rising each month, every cent should be spent on initiatives that create opportunities for our people; and not for those who are friends with politicians at the top.

Statement issued by Kobus Marais MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, August 26 2015