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Cape Town - While a fleet of R2bn helicopters is now gathering dust in storage because of insufficient funds to fly them, there seems to be no difficulty in financing VIP flights for President Jacob Zuma, reported BDLive on Thursday.
The purchase of 30 Agusta helicopters and 26 Gripen jet fighters was part of the 1999 arms deal, which is being investigated by a judicial commission of inquiry.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has admitted that most of the Gripens are being held in long-term storage. There has been outrage at news that the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fleet of Agusta 109 helicopters is now sharing their fate.
David Maynier, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson for defence, has called for an explanation from Mapisa-Nqakula, who herself has come under fire for using an air force helicopter to visit Tlokwe.
Said Maynier: "The 18 Agusta 109 pilots are reportedly not able to fly the minimum number of hours required to maintain their qualifications. The situation is so bad that there are rumours that a large proportion of the Agusta 109 light utility helicopters will have to be put into long-term storage."
Military expert Helmoed Heitman said the government's indecision over the future of the defence force is having a negative effect on the air force.
"An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind," Heitman said.
The defence ministry is yet to comment on the matter.
The purchase of 30 Agusta helicopters and 26 Gripen jet fighters was part of the 1999 arms deal, which is being investigated by a judicial commission of inquiry.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has admitted that most of the Gripens are being held in long-term storage. There has been outrage at news that the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fleet of Agusta 109 helicopters is now sharing their fate.
David Maynier, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson for defence, has called for an explanation from Mapisa-Nqakula, who herself has come under fire for using an air force helicopter to visit Tlokwe.
Said Maynier: "The 18 Agusta 109 pilots are reportedly not able to fly the minimum number of hours required to maintain their qualifications. The situation is so bad that there are rumours that a large proportion of the Agusta 109 light utility helicopters will have to be put into long-term storage."
Military expert Helmoed Heitman said the government's indecision over the future of the defence force is having a negative effect on the air force.
"An army without attack and tactical transport helicopters is a lame duck. A navy without helicopters and maritime patrol planes is blind," Heitman said.
The defence ministry is yet to comment on the matter.
