Presidency calls for use of SAAF aircraft

14 September 2016

The Presidency reiterates that it prefers the use of aircraft within the South African Air Force fleet to transport the President and Deputy President and allegations made by aviation experts in the media that President Jacob Zuma prefers chartered aircrafts are not true.

The President and Deputy President utilise aircraft provided by the SAAF. Currently both the President and Deputy President have been transported in chartered aircraft locally and abroad due to non-availability of reliable aircraft within the SAAF fleet.

The Presidency agrees with the experts that the use of smaller aircraft for local travel and the general use of the SAAF fleet than hiring aircraft would be more cost-effective for government.

Issued by Bongani Ngqulunga on behalf of the Presidency, 14 September 2016