President Cyril Ramaphosa flew to three SADC countries last week in an aeroplane owned by a controversial businessman because nobody had asked who owned it.
This is according to the Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who says they merely selected aircraft from a list provided by the National Treasury. She says, however, this policy has now been reviewed.
According to reports, Interpol lists Zunaid Moti as an international fugitive and has issued a red alert for his arrest.
Moti, his father and their business partners failed in their attempt recently to force the President to prevent their extradition to Lebanon.
EFF MP Phillip Mhlongo asked the minister why this particular aircraft was chosen.
“Did the department procure the services of this jet and if yes, was this particular jet selected? It is worrying because you have Inkwazi. You continue allowing this kind of procurement even of jets belonging to high risk criminals.”
The minister started by explaining the problems with the President’s official aircraft, Inkwazi. She then went on to tell members that the Defence Force or at the Intelligence Services allowed the head of state to travel in aircraft they had done no background checks on.
Earlier during question time, members were unhappy that the Minister of Home Affairs Minister was not in the house to answer questions. This led to a heated exchange with members of the EFF that saw National Spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Chief Whip Floyd Shivambu kicked out.
After saying she did know where the minister was, the speaker later read a letter from his office.
“It goes, I hereby tender an apology on behalf of the Minister of HA MG … Because he had to rush to the doctor,” read the letter.
The question to Gigaba stands over until the next time he appears for questions.
Good Morning to everyone except for Cyril Ramaphosa, his good Morning is pending until he tell the nation what he was doing in a thug’s plane Zunaid Moti who’s wanted by Interpol for fraud charges in Lebanon. pic.twitter.com/rltyTXVUbJ
— Man’s Not Barry Roux (@AdvBarryRoux) March 7, 2018
