Thursday, April 17, 2025

Everything We Know About Zuma’s New R4 Billion Jet

JZ's proposed new jet will be bought by South Africa's defence force - just another source of funds for the government to deplete.
South African President Jacob Zuma laughs as he attends the swearing-in ceremony of his Mozambican counterpart Armando Guebuza for a second term in office in the capital Maputo, January 14, 2010. Guebuza has promised to relax foreign investment rules and push ahead with economic reforms, as he was sworn in for his second term on Thursday and said fighting poverty was his priority. REUTERS/Grant Lee Neuenburg (MOZAMBIQUE - Tags: POLITICS)

It seems that before Zuma is kicked out of presidency he is racking up as much as he can. So let’s talk about this to-be private jet of his. Including a private bedroom suite, a bathroom and a conference room for eight people on board, the brand-new presidential jet to be bought by Armscor could cost around R4 billion.

Let’s just all put our heads together and think where that money is actually needed.

Armscor, the defence force’s acquisitions agency, officially announced the acquisition process on its website on Thursday, requesting information from people who may be able to supply the jet by 20 November. Submitted by the office of the Secretary for defence Sam Gulube, he went on to say:

We don’t know how much it’s going to cost. Any talk about cost of such a capability is unfounded, groundless and baseless. Armscor has requested information and will only know [about the cost] once that information is received.

Other specifications include the ability of the aircraft to carry 30 people and must have a range of 13 800km (as far as Moscow or New York). Perhaps an escape plan?
Obviously, the government’s decision has received multiple concerns across the board. The South African Defense Force Union (Sandu) has slammed the government, saying that this prioritisation is poor insight into the real needs of South Africa and will only add further strain to an “already overstretched defence budget”.
The money will likely be taken from the national defense budget, which could be better put to use improving operational planes that carry troops to deployment areas, equipment and better pay.
Spokesperson for Sandu, Pikkie Greef, says the defence force simply cannot afford this expense.
It’s not a priority at this stage and the reason government wants that particular jet is because of the range it has. There is no reason why President Zuma cannot travel the way President Mandela used to travel which is with stop overs and refuelling.
The president’s current jet, Inkwazi, which cost the country around R2 billion back in 2012, is only able to carry 15 people. Oh no.
Perhaps JZ should buy a few tickets for each of the Megamillions and EuroMillions Lotteries for tomorrow – as a combination of the two will add to his little cash flow problem.
[source: news24&ewn]