By Obakeng Maje

Tlokwe-The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula recently flew into Tlokwe on a South African Air Force helicopter to receive a memorandum from the South African National Civil Organisation (Sanco) and ANC members relating to party problems in the North West.

On Friday, Sanco and the ANC demanded that a memorandum calling for action against the former mayor of Tlokwe, Maphetle Maphetle be received by President Jacob Zuma. Instead, the Minister of Defence was sent and she arrived in Tlokwe on a South African Air Force helicopter.

“This trip was specifically to deal with ANC infighting and had nothing to do with the Department of Defence” Democratic Alliance Chris Hattingh said.

DA said The Minister’s use of a military helicopter for a party political engagement is an abuse of state resources and it also contradicts the Ministerial Handbook. 

According to the Ministerial Handbook:

“Air transport provided by the South African Air Force, or any other government department, may not be used by Members for party political engagements, unless such transport enables the Member concerned to fulfil important official engagements before or after the party political engagements” Hattingh said.

The DA will therefore be submitting parliamentary questions to determine the following:

•Whether the Minister had any official engagement before or after the party political engagement;• Whether the flight was approved by the Secretary of Defence, Dr Sam Gulube;• The total cost of this trip; and• Whether the South African Air Force has been used for any other party political engagements.  

The Minister must not treat the South African Air Force as the ANC’s own airborne taxi service.

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