The plane carrying Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe that made an emergency night landing in the Democratic Republic of Congo last
week, had to circle and use its own lights to find the runway,government spokesman Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
"The pilot realised the [runway] lights were not on," he told a media briefing at Parliament, following Cabinet's fortnightly
meeting on Wednesday. The incident happened while Motlanthe was returning home from
the African Union summit in Libya. "The plane was diverted to the DRC to land at a small airport.
On arrival at the airport, the pilot realised the [runway] lights were not on. So he had to circle around looking for the runway
using the lights of his aircraft until the runway was found. "He made an emergency landing... that caused a tyre to burst...
but the deputy president did land very safely. "The plane was then approached by both the military of the UN
force... and also the DRC armed forces," Maseko said. Asked if the troops had tried to enter the aircraft, he replied:
"No, nobody boarded the plane... The members of the [military]force just came to the plane to understand what was happening and
to check if it was safe. "As soon as it was established it was [Motlanthe], the plane was
allowed to refuel and proceed with the trip." He said Cabinet had been briefed on the incident by Defence
Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who would issue a statement later on "what really happened".
Responding to another question, he said the SA Air Force had noso-called long-haul planes.
"The airforce has planes, but no long-haul planes. So whenever the deputy president or ministers travel, they have to stop at a
country on the continent for refuelling. It is normal practice,"Maseko said.
The Democratic Alliance on Thursday called for a board of inquiry into the incident.
DA defence spokesman James Lorimer alleged in a statement that material facts had been omitted from the official report of the
incident.
"Material facts were omitted from the official report of the incident, which concealed its seriousness. Due to the potential
risk to the deputy president... there should be a full and open investigation.
"Right now it looks as if facts are being hidden, perhaps to save the blushes of officials," he said.