Expensive daily helicopter flights between President Jacob Zuma’s
Nkandla home and King Shaka International Airport are straining the
South African Air Force budgets. This was claimed by the South African National Defence Union (Sandu).
An insufficient budget has led to half the Gripen fighter squadron being
placed in storage‚ and the Agusta A109 light utility helicopter fleet
being grounded. Flying hours per pilot have been cut by as much as
two-thirds and numerous maintenance contracts have been placed on hold.
Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff said while many air force units were being starved of resources for operations and training‚ money was being spent to transport Zuma. In KwaZulu-Natal‚ two coastal helicopter squadrons have received no funding this year for sea and mountain rescue operations‚ but have funding for VIP flights‚ according to a report.
Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday that 15 Squadron‚ in Durban‚ was allowed a small number of flight hours for training‚ but 300 hours for VIP flights. Zuma uses his presidential jet to fly to King Shaka Airport in Durban and two Oryx helicopters to fly 100km from there to Nkandla.
Beeld says these helicopter flights cost about R36 000 each.
An insufficient budget has led to half the Gripen fighter squadron being
placed in storage‚ and the Agusta A109 light utility helicopter fleet
being grounded. Flying hours per pilot have been cut by as much as
two-thirds and numerous maintenance contracts have been placed on hold.Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff said while many air force units were being starved of resources for operations and training‚ money was being spent to transport Zuma. In KwaZulu-Natal‚ two coastal helicopter squadrons have received no funding this year for sea and mountain rescue operations‚ but have funding for VIP flights‚ according to a report.
Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday that 15 Squadron‚ in Durban‚ was allowed a small number of flight hours for training‚ but 300 hours for VIP flights. Zuma uses his presidential jet to fly to King Shaka Airport in Durban and two Oryx helicopters to fly 100km from there to Nkandla.
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