ur more high ranking officials have been put on “compulsory special leave” relating to the Gupta wedding jet saga, Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said on Friday.

The four were from the SA National Defence Force and the SA Police Service (SAPS), he said.

He named the officials and gave their ranks. They were: a brigadier-general from the SA Air Force (SAAF) command post; a major from the SAPS operational response unit; a Lt-Col from the movement control office; and brigadier-general from the SAAF commanding base.

The move follows the suspension of Chief of State Protocol ambassador Bruce Koloane on Thursday, during a probe into how a Gupta family chartered jet was allowed to land at Waterkloof Air Force Base.

Koloane’s deputy would assume responsibility in the interim.

Briefing the media from Pretoria, ministers from the justice, crime prevention, and security cluster said a preliminary probe had  been done, but a full investigation was underway by the directors general of the affected departments.

The committee of DGs would have seven days to report back to the Cabinet ministers.

The government insisted the landing was not cleared by the proper authorities.

In addition the escort provided to the Gupta wedding guests who arrived on the plane was not provided by police.

A private security company – which illegally fitted blue lights  to vehicles with false number plates – was involved.

Police and metro police officers in the security escort had since been arrested, Radebe said. – Sapa