Why are we spending R800m on aircraft for VIPs when millions of people do not have housing, health and basic services?Government VIPs will soon be jetting around the country in two luxury jets complete with sleeping quarters, computer and satellite communication services and a conference cabin with space for six people.
The department of defence has leased the jets on a five-year contract to supplement its VIP squadron.
According to a report in Beeld newspaper, the contract with AdoAir, a small Lanseria-based company, is worth R808m.
The company belongs to the Adonai Group, founded by Nigerian businessman Adegboyega Olulade.
AdoAir “came out top” out of five competing tenders, the department spokesperson Ndivhuwo wa ha Mabaya said yesterday. He said an ageing air transport fleet had made it necessary for the South African Air Force to charter flights for VIP air transport, and this had been expensive.
Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu revealed in December that chartered flights for VIPs spiked from R3.6m in 2009 to R16.9m last year.
Mabaya added that the lease agreement also included the maintenance of the luxury jets over the five-year period.
He said: “The two jets will be used by the VIP squadron. Our current fleet of VIP planes are very old and we don’t have the money to buy new planes.”
These jets will also be used when the presidential jet, Inkwazi, is undergoing maintenance. - City Press
Readers comments
fandash1 - R808m over 5 years equates to R161,6m per year yet the cost which had spiked was only R16.9m and that over 5 years equates to R84.5m. Maybe the honourable Minister sholuld ask for a refund on her school fees as basic sums (no not maths) were not mastered. What a rip off for the tax payer. 9 1/2 times the cost dear Minister, who gets the rest. SHOCKING EXPENDITURE.
Apache - Have I got this right? R808m over 5 years = R161.6m per year, but they only spent R16.9m on chartered flights last year! So we, the taxpayers, will be forking out 10 times more per annum than we have been...no wonder this country is in the mess it is. What clown did the maths on this decision? And yet the masses will again vote for these clowns in the upcoming elections, despite the fact that they still don't have the houses or services they are repeatedly promised. Funny thing that...
marc - US$ 115 million? You could get two very exceptional jets, that fulfill the mandate, for a 3rd of that price. ADO AIR is a Nigerian company......Look it doenst take an rocket scientist to work out there is something very, very fishy about this deal. Daylight Robbery! Check out controller.com for jet prices.
Benzo -
Why sleeping facilities for "flying around the country"? How many conferences with not more than 6 people? Why computers? We all have our own laptops with our own data and software on hand!!
She either wants a piece of the action or doesn't have good people to guarantee return on investment. We can't have SAPS getting all the shady deals.
I thought SAPS did VIP transport? Hence the purchase of the R150 million Citation jet two years ago.
Google ADOAIR. They own one Hawker 800XP. Used price between R35 to R50 million.
Google pre-owned gulfstream. You will find used top of the line G550 at about R350 million.
So the defense department wants to lease two planes for over twice the price of purchasing two G550.
I thought SAPS did VIP transport? Hence the purchase of the R150 million Citation jet two years ago.
Google ADOAIR. They own one Hawker 800XP. Used price between R35 to R50 million.
Google pre-owned gulfstream. You will find used top of the line G550 at about R350 million.
So the defense department wants to lease two planes for over twice the price of purchasing two G550.
Gen -
It must have been the bantu education that the present elite had that helped them calculate that R16,9million times 5 is greater than 808 million. PS When chartering an aircraft , the maintenance is already added. The money the ANC plan to spend will not remain in South Africa, if you say I'm wrong, check the ownership of charter company.
Assuming it is the Hawker 800XPi's- these sell for around $8m dollars pre-owned in the first world. To the math...someone is lining someone's pockets somewhere...
marc -
US$ 115 million? You could get two very exceptional jets, that fulfill the mandate, for a 3rd of that price. ADO AIR is a Nigerian company......Look it doenst take an rocket scientist to work out there is something very, very fishy about this deal. Daylight Robbery! Check out controller.com for jet prices.
Ralph -
In 1994 the ANC took over the goose that laid the golden egg, but I am afraid that they are forgetting to feed the goose and pretty soon it will die and then they will have nothing.
0 comments:
Post a Comment