Ehhh Mbeki's Jet arrives soon ... Half a Billion later ..

[Gunship]

President Thabo Mbeki will be able to take to the skies in style in September with the South African Air Force's first inter-continental VIP aircraft scheduled to arrive in the country within three weeks.

The Boeing Business Jet, which will cost South Africa R587-million, is due to fly to Pretoria next week from Basel, Switzerland where luxury interior fittings, including a state-of-the-art office, are being installed.


Its delivery has now been delayed by two weeks due to the Civil Aviation Authority running final tests on the aircraft, Defence Ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said.


The jet, one of 50 in service worldwide, will be used primarily by Mbeki, but Deputy President Jacob Zuma and other members of Cabinet will also be able to travel long distances in it.


The aircraft's hi-tech equipment includes conference facilities and satellite voice and fax communications.


While the basic aircraft cost R300- million, about R108-million was spent to upgrade it to VIP status.


A further R180-million was earmarked for specialist support equipment, delivery and management costs, and the training of the crew.


According to Boeing's director for socio-economic affairs, Isaac Nkama, the Boeing Business Jet can fly more than 11 100km (6 000 nautical miles) non-stop.


Mkhwanazi said that because the jet has the capacity to fly non-stop to Europe and Asia, Mbeki will no longer have to land in other African countries to refuel.


"Besides the security risks at foreign airports, there are also protocol problems. Even if it is 3am, protocol dictates that the president of the country he is stopping in to refuel has to come and receive him. This is sometimes embarrassing and inconvenient," Mkhwanazi said.


On trips of more than 10 175km (5 500 nautical miles) the airplane can carry a maximum of eight passengers, while it can accommodate up to 18 people on short flights.

Check here is I talked s**t :rolleyes: (http://www.suntimes.co.za/2002/07/28/news/news03.asp)

[maxrated]

Why would our CIVIL Aviation Authority need to run tests on the Presidential BBJ, if its going to be operated as an Airforce Aircraft by an Airforce Squadron and flown by Airforce Pilots ?

If on the other hand , the aircraft is to be civvie registered, does this mean that the Airforce would have to have been issued with their own Civillian AOC? In which case an entire range of profit generating possibilities could open up and the organisation could become self funding.

" Bombs dropped while you wait , phone 0800 SAAF..."


Or, possibly it should be registered in the LS 1 catagory, ZU-, (experimental), which would enable his exellency to check the dipstick and the plugs himself thereby eliminating the need for expensively trained engineers to do the job- a further saving to the SA taxpayer.

Any Idea's ?

[B Sousa]

What a Deal.......Any bets on the pilots?? Does anyone believe Comrad Presidente will dig into the EEO Pool?.........NOT
I think theres an SAA pilot may be looking for a job and a bigger suitcase......


for those of you who may have heard this tale and know where it comes from................."WHY I SLEEP"

[PAXboy]

Its delivery has now been delayed by two weeks due to the Civil Aviation Authority running final tests on the aircraft, Defence Ministry spokesman Sam Mkhwanazi said. This can't be anything to do with having an extra two weeks in Switzerland in mid-(Northern hemisphere) summer, could it?

I though that the military were supposed to do everything to a timetable and be better at keeping to them then us johnnies in civvie street ... :rolleyes:

[V1 Rotate]

Usualy while travelling around the continent one will notice that the rule of thumb here is that " the bigger and more luxurious the presidential jet - the poorer the people.

In some cases the presidential jet can be worth more than the country !! :D :D :D :D

V1 Rotate

[Pandabear]

Yeah...SA has sooo much extra cash lying around...why not buy a nice new plane...but it is only a 737..!
I would have thought that a nice 767 or something would have been a better fit...for the hangers-on and the shopping!Old Bob uses the air Zim 767!

Does it fly under the callsign"eeehSAwun"?

At least there are lots of SAA pilots rated on Boeing...for now!


:D

[maxrated]

Good point, mind you , does anyone think that the presidential BBJ will be flown by affirmed action pilots ?

I understand that minister Mac Maharaj, once refused to fly on an airforce Cessna Caravan, apparently both the commander and the copilot were a touch too dark for the ministerial liking. The flight was delayed until a pilot, (who's genetic origins hailed from more northerly and temperate latitudes), was made a crew member on the aircraft. Talk about double standards!

[DXB]

I saw the SA BBJ in basel a few days ago- NO WAY WILL IT BE READY IN 2 WEEKS unless the one from above helps maybe in SEP poss OCt :confused: :confused:

[124.8]

As a ex-pat living here in the heart where ZS-RSA, alias B737 BBJ has been "reconstructed", seen MANY times by myself taxiing past the Jet Aviation hanger in Basel, have wondered...??? Luckily I am not paying the 50% tax money of previous to fund this....
And there are some other ZS-..... machines as well, from time to time.
Talk is cheap, money buys the whisky... :rolleyes:

[Engineer]

This sound like another Government Scam (http://allafrica.com/stories/200207090823.html) just in a different part of Africa. If Mandela did without this fancy trimming what has changed?

[Alpha Leader]

Engineer::

The point about Mandela is that he is simply a great man, period.

Sad to see that after all these years (and all these dictators....) it is still a sure bet that in almost any case involving the plundering of public funds for glitzy toys for the big chiefs the money trail leads to Switzerland (Jet Aviation for Mbeki's Jet, Trans Air SA in case of Rawling's Gulfstream).

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Cpt. Underpants]

You're a Swiss national, aren't you, alpha?

[AfricanSkies]

Thabo Mbeki is about to take delivery of a new, specially upgraded jet worth £37.5m, as reports showed yesterday that 75% of the South African President's people do not have enough to eat.

Mr Mbeki's decision to proceed with acquiring the aircraft amid worsening poverty has been condemned by the main opposition parties. Pictures of children physically stunted by wasting and the nutrition-deficit disease kwashiorkor were published extensively in the country's Sunday Times newspaper yesterday.

One in five children in South Africa suffers from chronic malnutrition, according to a joint report compiled by the South African government and the World Health Organisation. A national food-consumption survey, one of several studies in the report, found that 50 per cent of households suffer from hunger. Half of the 3,120 children examined had less than half the recommended level of nutrients. Government estimates suggest that around three-quarters of South Africans have inadequate access to food.

Goaded by the shocking figures, the government has set up a committee to investigate ways to concentrate on providing more nutrient-rich food to starving children.

A spokesman for the opposition Democratic Alliance, Anthony Hazel, said yesterday that the acquisition of the aeroplane had come to symbolise all that was wrong with Mr Mbeki's administration.

"The decision to buy the jet is clearly unwarranted expenditure and poor prioritisation of the country's needs," said Mr Hazel. He added that Mr Mbeki, as the new chairman of the African Union, must lead by example and refrain from the behaviour of his fellow African leaders who were squandering public resources on luxuries while millions of their people had no food.

While the basic version of Mr Mbeki's Boeing business jet costs £19.2m, the remaining £18.3m was used to upgrade it to VIP status. It has been fitted with luxury interior fittings including a state-of-the-art office and hi-tech equipment including conference facilities and satellite voice and fax communications.

South Africa's defence spokesman, Sam Mkhwananzi, said that because the aircraft could fly non-stop to Europe and Asia, Mr Mbeki would no longer have to land in other African countries to refuel

But Mr Hazel said Mr Mbeki should have kept his present jet and used commercial flights on long-haul trips to Europe and Asia. "Mr Mbeki should use South African Airways on long-distance trips. Leaders from rich European countries use their national airlines on long trips. A poor country like South Africa cannot afford this luxury," he said.

[B Sousa]

"One in five children in South Africa suffers from chronic malnutrition, according to a joint report compiled by the South African government and the World Health Organisation. A national food-consumption survey, one of several studies in the report, found that 50 per cent of households suffer from hunger. Half of the 3,120 children examined had less than half the recommended level of nutrients. Government estimates suggest that around three-quarters of South Africans have inadequate access to food. "

African Skies
Would I be guessing if I said that more than one in five of those starving are not "South African".In the sense that they illegally immigrated South?? If I remember a few years ago, I think there was a chance to take care of all within SAs borders. Today I believe the borders are just lines on the map....
Your thoughts please.......

[Gunship]

Bert, I have reported you to the moderator ... you are talking too close to the truth bru ... enjoy SA next week :D

[B Sousa]

OK, Gunship. I will give you a shout when I hit Knysna.....Gotta do some Calamari and fresh Oysters...... I will be in SA for a couple months so Dinner is on me....

[Alpha Leader]

Yes, I am....and sad to see that the tradition of aiding and abetting the plundering of (mainly poor) economies is still alive and kicking:mad:

[AfricanSkies]

Bert, I don't know, mate. The clipping said that the report was compiled by the WHO and the SA Govt. It could be true, on the other hand, it could be that the SA Govt wants more of that lovely aid! Anyway, there's no doubt that the average south african could do with a bit of improvement in life..like a toilet or a tap yet the top cat gets a half billion rand jet

as for the borders, they're as porous as the governments coffers...

[discobeast]

There is often a segment on TV here in NZ on the food shortage in southern africa. NZ relief organisations are gearing up big time to help these people.

It’s just really sad how these dictators in government don’t give a sh!t about their own people. Mugabe is first on the list.

Bert, you bugga! Enjoy SA! You gonna do some flying over there?
:D

[Gunship]

News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Gauteng/0,1113,2-7-829_1274569,00.html)

Thabo's "Fish Eagle" has landed ...

Erika Gibson - Pretoria

Inkwanzi, or fish eagle, President Thabo Mbeki's controversial jet, landed at Waterkloof airbase minutes shortly after 00:00 on Tuesday, air force spokesperson Francois Coetzee said.

The intercontinental Boeing Business Jet was flown on a non-stop delivery flight some 9 500km from Basel, Switzerland on Monday after debate has raged for months over the R700 million extravagance.

The defence department has not reached an agreement over how the jet is to be introduced, if at all. There is concern that a public launching event might be seen as ostentatious and some feel the intercontinental Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) should just quietly assume its VIP role.

Based on the Boeing 737-800 passenger airliner, the BBJ can fly a distance of 11 500 km at 870 km/h without stopping for fuel.

Right to the bitter end the Democratic Alliance (DA) has been objecting against the purchase.

Nick Clelland-Stokes of the DA, in a statement, titled, The ego has landed, said the luxury purchase is an indication of Mbeki's extravagance in contrast to the hard reality many South Africans have to face.

Huge bed, conference room and lounge

Clelland-Stokes maintained the Australian premier's aircraft was considerably more modest, while president Festus Mogae of Botswana flew economic class on regular airlines since Aids relief enojoyed higher priority in his country's budget.

Various leaders used their countries' official airlines on official visits, and for African visits, Mbeki could use his "old" Falcon 900 jetliner.

Clelland-Stokes added that flight hour expenses for the Inkwanzi had shot up by 86% over the past two years.

It has taken about a year to redecorate Mbeki's jet with a huge bed, a conference room and a lounge. Australian premier Johan Howard used an ordinary aircraft seat. British premier Tony Blair flew British Airways on long-distance flights. The New Zealand premier flew Air New Zealand and both the Greek premier and president flew Olympic Airways.

"President Mbeki should have done the same and fly South African Airways for trans-continental trips," Clelland-Stokes said. "The existing Falcon 900 is more than adequate for shorter flights."

'Gap between elite and ordinary'

"The sheer vulgarity of the new presidential jet and the extravagance it represents is disconcerting. South Africa needs job opportunities, housing and an extensive Aids programme. The jet illustrates the widening gap between the ANC elite and ordinary South Africans."

The air force will manage the jetliner as part of its VIP fleet. An earlier air force statement had said the BBJ was the only jet to meet presidential requirements.

The jet can cover routes between Los Angeles to London; New York to Buenos Aires or London to South Africa with ease.

In addition it has 25% more space on board than previous BBJ models. It can carry 20 passengers or an entire presidential party.

The Inkwanzi is white with light and dark blue stripes - the official air force colours - with the official emblem on the tail.

Defence ministry spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said the Boeing, registered as ZS-RSA, will be operated by air force aircrew supported by air force ground technical staff.

These crews have been trained at Boeing and will familiarise themselves with ZS-RSA for a month before the plane is put into service, Mkhwanazi said.

[Paddle Steamer]

SO who gets to fly the'" fishy "thing.

How many of 21 sqn's pilots will actually be trained for this one. And the licence??? As far as I know it is only three and that takes up half of the total available for other duties.

Go for it "Spof" :)

[Gunship]

Remeber 3 Greens Spoff :o

News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Gauteng/0,1113,2-7-829_1274752,00.html)

Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki's controversial R700m new jet will remain under wraps for at least the next month, defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi told News24 on Tuesday.

The Intercontinental Boeing Business Jet landed a few minutes after 00:00 at Waterkloof Airbase on Tuesday after a non-stop 9 500km flight from Basel, Switzerland. The media was not allowed at the base for the arrival of the much-debated "extravagance".

Mkhwanazi said the plane would remain under wraps for the next four weeks. A small launch might be held when it went into service. "Maybe we will allow the media a look," Mkhwanazi said.

He said the Boeing, registered as ZS-RSA, would be operated by air force air crew, supported by air force ground technical staff.

The crew, including pilots, air and ground personnel and engineers, have already received training at the Boeing factory, but will familiarise themselves further with the plane during the next month.

Fulfil the requirements

The Inkwazi is white with light and dark blue stripes - the official air force colours - with the country's official emblem on the tail.

It took nearly a year to have the plane refurbished, with a huge bed, a conference room and a lounge.

Asked whether the plane was luxurious, Makhwanazi said: "It fulfils the requirements."

The air force earlier said the BBJ was the only jetliner to fulfil the presidential requirements.

Based on the Boeing 737-800 passenger airliner, the BBJ can fly 11 500km at 870 km/h without stopping to refuel. It can fly between Los Angeles and London, New York to Buenos Aires, or London to Johannesburg with ease.

The jet has 25% more space on board than previous BBJ models and can carry 20 passengers or an entire presidential party.

[spot light]

Last time I saw the BBJ it was still a BBJ 1 (-700) !! It is the original version not being a -800 !!
I am sure that Mbeki will have a load of fun flying around the world in it !!! Africa !!!;) ;)

[togabutton]

Due to the eagerness at which the SA government is trying to follow the example of the other African countries north of the Limpopo and beyond, there will soon be ample opportunities for contract pilots IN South Africa. Considering the present rate of unwarranted and may I add wasteful expenditure, how long before the United Nations World Food Programme, UNICEF, ICRC, MSF etc to name a few decide to set up permanent camps in South Africa. We all know that they then require C208s, King Air 200s, Beech 1900s, C130s, B727s etc for moving around personnel and food aid and supplies.

Just imagine not having to leave home to build time or earn US dollars. What a pleasure it will be to fly into Cape Town or Durban instead of Huambo or Luanda. Perhaps it sounds like a load of bull, but is it really that far fetched? The already stretched minority of people who are taxed to death to support the clueless poor majority cannot also be expected to provide money for new fancy meet and greet presidential terminals, BBJs etc. Where is all this money supposed to come from? Sorry my mates, but at the risk of being labeled an unpatriotic pessimist, I see another Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Angola, Sudan (pick a suitable detroyed country) in the making.

[Sky Goose]

Howzit Oaks

I also think what Mbeki is doing is bull$hit, but you gotta stop running down SA, and keep comparing SA to other banana republics, we might be heading that way, but were not there yet.

Were actually not too bad off, all things considered, and once I have my ratings, experience etc. I cant wait to get my ass back home.

I read this article on iafrica.com the other day, Mr Lundy does have some valid points, read it, its pretty inspirational,

cheers
SG :cool:



Why you should stay in SA
Posted Thu, 29 Aug 2002

With young professionals emigrating to Australia, London and various other destinations, the "brain drain" is becoming an increasingly serious problem in South Africa.

But then along comes Guy Lundy, formerly of Dimension Data Business Solutions, and staunch patriot, who recently gave a speech tackling this issue and encouraging his fellow associates to realise the true potential of this country.

The audience were so inspired by Lundy's words that they asked him for copies and now the speech has been doing the Internet rounds. Lundy wrote that he was happy to share the speech with other people "so they can spread the message, especially those living overseas and those who care about spreading a positive message about South Africa."

In case you haven't read Guy Lundy's thoughts, here is your opportunity to do so.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Many years ago I was an exchange student in the USA, and every morning in my school, as in all schools across America, all classes came to a halt as the Pledge of Allegiance came over the loudspeaker system and every student stood to repeat these words.

I was quite amazed by this display of daily brainwashing in so-called "land of the free". But in hindsight it isn't actually that amazing, because we've all experienced how Americans are just so proud to be American. No matter how big their problems, and heaven knows they've got a lot of them, Americans will still spend hours telling you how fantastic their country is, and in fact, how it is better than, pretty much anywhere else in the world.

South African hypocrites

What a contrast then, when I later spent a few years in London and I ended up actively avoiding other South Africans. Why? Because frankly their negativity about our homeland irritated me so much. These people who will gladly put new South African flags on their cars and support a whole cottage industry importing biltong and NikNaks to munch on as they cheer on the Springboks at Twickenham, will spend hours telling anyone who will listen just how awful it is in South Africa, how lucky they are to be in London and how they are never going back because it's in such a mess.

At the time I put it down to the fact that they were justifying why they were holed up in their dingy little flats under grey London skies while their friends and family enjoyed the sunshine on Camps Bay beach. However, when I came home, expecting to be greeted by the smiles of new South Africans everywhere, I was very disappointed to find that exactly the same attitude is pervasive right here.

The number of people, who asked me why I came back here and why on earth I had brought my French wife with me, simply amazed me. I would have thought the answer was perfectly obvious.

I was later very disturbed, although not surprised, to hear that our president found it necessary to make a point to South African businessmen that they should stop running down their own country on overseas business trips. Can anyone tell me what it is that makes sense about running down your own home to foreign people that you would like to visit here and invest here?

It seems to me like inviting your boss to dinner at your house in the hope of getting a promotion but discouraging him from coming because you're a terrible cook and your dog bites. Yes, we have problems, but so does everybody else. Sure, the Rand is down the toilet, but if you look closely enough, you'll see that just about every other emerging market country has suffered from the same woes - and that includes Australia and New Zealand, which everyone seems in such a rush to get to.

And aren't we lucky that we aren't living in Argentina with their currency crisis? Sure, our neighbour, Zimbabwe, is run by a mad, despotic fool, but man am I glad that I'm not a Pakistani. We have Aids and we also have an army of people trying to find a cure for it — possibly more vigorously than anywhere else since we have the most to lose from it.

Don't be so hard on yourself

We do have corruption, and the Americans have George W. Bush, whether they like it or not. We've got all sorts of problems, yes, but must we be so hard on ourselves? In many ways we are far better off in South Africa as a whole than we have been at any time in our history.

Our people are getting educated and housed at a world-beating rate, we have amongst the world's cheapest electricity, our inflation is the lowest it's been in my lifetime, we have an economic growth rate and there is development everywhere you look.

We have so much going for us; we have so many good people, such an interesting mix of cultures; we have so much beautiful countryside and natural resources that we can draw from — we really have such a bright future ahead of us. Let us concentrate on the positive things that surround us every day, the sunshine, the people, the beauty, and the progress. Constantly criticizing our country can only do harm for you personally, your personal feeling of happiness and well-being and for the country that you know from the bottom of your heart that you love, otherwise you wouldn't be here.

Do not run down South Africa

Ladies and Gentlemen, I implore you, do not run down South Africa, neither at home nor overseas. Become ambassadors for your country. Welcome foreign guests and point out how far we have come and how far we're going to go how they need to watch out for us on the world stage. And if you're overseas on business or holiday (if you can afford it), tell people how much South Africa has going for it and invite them to come and see for themselves.

I have devised my own pledge of allegiance and I'd like to repeat it to you now : "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the Republic of South Africa and to the interesting people, places and idiosyncrasies for which it stands, one nation under several religions, languages and cultures, yet indivisible, with freedom, basic needs and progress for all."

That is my pledge of allegiance to my home, our home. I pledge to help others see what is so good about it.

Our Beloved Country !!! South Africa, almost alone amongst emerging market economies, is set to escape virtually unscathed from the latest bout of investor panic sweeping the developing world's fragile economies (The Times, London, August 2001)

Banking

The SA banking sector has been consistently ranked in the top 10 in terms of competitiveness (IMD, Switzerland). When Nelson Mandela was inaugurated President in 1994, SA was insolvent (liabilities exceeded assets). Today the Government's deficit is negligible — one of only a handful of countries in this position. We've had single digit inflation since 1993 — following 20 years of double-digit inflation.

Mortgage rates are at their lowest level since 1988. South Africa is one of only 12 countries, where we can drink water from a tap. Our tap water was found to be the 3rd best quality in the entire world.

Remember 15 years ago, in 1986:

A state of emergency was declared White men did two years compulsory military service
64 184 black people were removed from "white areas"
3989 people were detained without trial
Our economic growth rate was 0.7 percent - today it is 3%
64 countries had sports boycotts against SA!!!
Wine

South African wines win international awards every year and we have the longest wine route in the world. Nelson Mandela, an international icon of forgiveness, tolerance, and humanity is our favourite son. The Kruger Park has the most innovative management of a national park anywhere in the world - and is the world's most profitable game park. Eskom is the largest producer of coal-fired electricity in the world and South Africans pay the least for electricity in the world. South African Breweries is the 4th largest brewer in the world and produces over 50% of China's beer!

Cars

Mercedes Benz C Class, BMW 3 Series and VW Golf/Jetta vehicles for all right-hand drive markets throughout the world are produced in South Africa. Didata grew from a local IT service provider into a huge, global networking company with branches in 30 countries. The Cape Peninsula has more species of plants here per hectare than any other area of the world.

Magnificent highways, warm, friendly, vibrant rainbow people. The world's most progressive Constitution Kreepy Kraulies — a South African invention — Mrs Ball's chutney and biltong. The world's best looking population.

"Leader's deal in hope — I give many speeches nearly daily and I talk about positives. Many have forgotten the Kasspirs and guns — its paradise now in comparison."

"I've got four children and ten grandchildren and we are staying right here". Raymond Ackerman, CEO Pick 'n Pay.

"For every guy who holds up a gun, there are 99 who hold out a hand of friendship" — Dennis Beckett, journalist.

About Guy Lundy

Guy is a partner of Centricity Consulting, an international management consultancy specialising in the area of Customer Relationship Management (CRM). He has worked for a number of international firms, including Dimension Data, Ernst & Young, Oracle and the London Stock Exchange. He has lived, worked and travelled for several years on four continents before finally settling back in his hometown of Cape Town with his French wife. His call to be positive about South Africa’s future has made its way around the world on email, and has featured a great deal in the press.

[Skaz]

Yup, heard the flying fish-bird talking to Jhb Control while we were going into FAJS a few nights ago.

to qoute the very self satisfied sounding pilot :" and to the layman its a BBJ !"

no hard feelings mate, I'd be happy too flying that thing!

[Gunship]

News 24 (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/0,1113,2-7_1275213,00.html)

Mbeki jet flies into flak

Erika Gibson - Johannesburg - South African taxpayers have forked out about R700m for the new presidential jet, but no one is allowed to view the aircraft at its new home at Waterkloof air force base.

The jet, which is being described by some as an "embarrassment" for the government, is being kept away under lock and key.

Requests to photograph the Inkwazi, it's official name, were refused by the ministry of defence on Tuesday.

Defence spokesperson Sam Mkhwanazi said the air force now had to start with ground training and flights to inaugurate the aeroplane as part of 21 Squadron.

"This training enjoys priority. We hope to show the aeroplane to the media soon. Maybe even this week, but definitely within the next four weeks."

In the meantime, members of the public have expressed their dissatisfaction about the purchase to Beeld.

Only a few were proud that Mbeki now had a worthy mode of transport to fulfil his international responsibilities.

André Botha says Mbeki is spending a lot of time abroad to obtain investors' money, but then spends about R700m on a jet. "He should spend more time at home, travelling on our roads.

'Could have supported 20 000 children'

"He should go and look at conditions in provincial hospitals and in townships - then he might think twice about his jet."

An anonymous writer says she is a supporter of the government, but this aeroplane irks her.

"We have so many challenges in South Africa: unemployment, Aids, a housing crisis and many more which should be getting priority.

"This purchase was totally unnecessary."

Graham Niven believes many millions have been spent on home improvements, this jet and new vehicles for the presidency.

He reckons at least 20 000 underprivileged children could have been supported for 10 years with this money.

Rudy Hamman wants to know how the expenses of this jet could be justified if the air force does not even have enough money to keep its training planes in the air.

Elvira Rohland wonders if purchases like this contribute to the food crisis in the country, as well as rising interest rates. "Is this where our hard-earned tax money is going?"

Siegfried Hahn wants to know if Mbeki?s attitude boils down to: "We are all equal, but I am more equal than others."

Darryl Jacobs says he does not care two hoots about the distance the jet can fly or how many people it can carry.

"I hope the president sleeps peacefully at night in the knowledge that millions of his compatriots are suffering because of poverty and illness, while he has an aeroplane with a large lounge and a huge bed."