Zuma Should Scrap Order for R4 Billion VIP Jet, says DA

The Democratic Alliance said President Jacob Zuma should show leadership and publically insist that the order for a R4 billion jet for him not go through, especially in tight financial times and with more important priorities needing funding.

The statement by the DA on Sunday comes after a news report saying that Armscor plans to begin the procurement process for the luxury VIP jet.

“While we appreciate that the President’s existing jet, Inkwazi, has been grounded from time to time due to mechanical problems, a R4 billion luxury VIP jet fitted with a private bedroom suite, a bathroom and conference room for eight and 30 person capacity is not the answer,” the DA said.

That was double the price the Department of Defence was going to pay for three secondhand jets, the DA added.

Even the SABC was astounded by this expense, at least at first. “R4 billion VIP jet for Zuma? (It then quoted a News24 link.) WHAT. THE. F#CK!!!” – and it spelled out the word. Shortly afterwards the same Twitter account, SABC News Online, tweeted, “SABC News would like to apologize for an earlier tweet that had profanity. The (sic) was done by someone without authority to be on our account.”

The DA statement comes at the end of a weekend-long provincial conference held by the African National Congress in KwaZulu Natal, where it was reported that Zuma made a comment that has drawn the anger of other parties. He said he believed the ANC came before South Africa.

“I argued one time with someone who said the country comes first and I said as much as I understand that I think my organisation, the ANC, comes first,” Zuma reportedly said.

Both the DA and the Economic Freedom Front criticised him, and the DA demanded an apology. The EFF said it was evidence that the country is headed for a dictatorship.

“This is the language of dictators who think they hold monopoly of wisdom and are indispensable,” the EFF said in a statement.

“[These comments] are also irresponsible coming from a man who as a consequence of being an ANC president has enriched himself, his comrades and family to the detriment of ordinary South Africans.”