Mbeki flies in opulence while people are starving
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Mbeki's jet needs extra R20m
President Thabo Mbeki's jet - named the Inkwazi - is set to require nearly R20m more than the R58m budgeted for running costs by the defence department over the next three years. The aircraft falls under the defence department vote. Although it is a small budget item within the department, rising costs of the aircraft have been noted in parliament. Its joint budget committee this week reported that the department of defence (DoD) had expressed a concern "that the expectations contained in Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) did not reflect the projected allocations to the department." Manuel presented the MTBPS late last month.
This, in layman's language, is that MPs were concerned that the department was not getting enough money to carry out its required functions. The higher-than-expected costs of the Inkwazi, which is Zulu for fish eagle, is listed under a report on the MTBPS released by the budget committee which is responsible for oversight on the budgeting process. It is chaired by African National Congress MP Nhlanhla Nene. The jet is mentioned under an item expressing concern that the role of the DoD in Africa "has continued to grow," but was still under-funded. A larger amount of R126m was needed under that item, but under air defence it notes: "increased flying hours for the presidential business jet requires an additional R19m."
The committee noted that DoD is under budget distress and viewed its declining budget allocations "as indicative of a decline in government priority." According to a document submitted to the National Assembly defence committee, operational spending on the presidential aircraft was projected to be R11m in the current financial year, rising to R23m next year and just over R24m in 2006/07. The jet - long a bone of contention with opposition parties - hit the headlines earlier this year when the DoD released figures to parliament showing that Mbeki took ANC officials - including national spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama - with him abroad the R600m Boeing 737 during the election period. Figures released then indicated that the average of the 81 flights taken in the year to June was about R270 000. Total operating cost for the period was nearly R22m.
The defence vote remains virtually stagnant - when accounting for inflation - in the three-year period with the budget projected to be R22.2bn this year, rising to R24.7bn next year and to R25.3bn in 2006/07, but falling to R25.2bn in 2007/08. The average annual growth in defence spending in this period is 4.3%, according to the MTBPS.
President Thabo Mbeki's jet - named the Inkwazi - is set to require nearly R20m more than the R58m budgeted for running costs by the defence department over the next three years. The aircraft falls under the defence department vote. Although it is a small budget item within the department, rising costs of the aircraft have been noted in parliament. Its joint budget committee this week reported that the department of defence (DoD) had expressed a concern "that the expectations contained in Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) did not reflect the projected allocations to the department." Manuel presented the MTBPS late last month.
This, in layman's language, is that MPs were concerned that the department was not getting enough money to carry out its required functions. The higher-than-expected costs of the Inkwazi, which is Zulu for fish eagle, is listed under a report on the MTBPS released by the budget committee which is responsible for oversight on the budgeting process. It is chaired by African National Congress MP Nhlanhla Nene. The jet is mentioned under an item expressing concern that the role of the DoD in Africa "has continued to grow," but was still under-funded. A larger amount of R126m was needed under that item, but under air defence it notes: "increased flying hours for the presidential business jet requires an additional R19m."
The committee noted that DoD is under budget distress and viewed its declining budget allocations "as indicative of a decline in government priority." According to a document submitted to the National Assembly defence committee, operational spending on the presidential aircraft was projected to be R11m in the current financial year, rising to R23m next year and just over R24m in 2006/07. The jet - long a bone of contention with opposition parties - hit the headlines earlier this year when the DoD released figures to parliament showing that Mbeki took ANC officials - including national spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama - with him abroad the R600m Boeing 737 during the election period. Figures released then indicated that the average of the 81 flights taken in the year to June was about R270 000. Total operating cost for the period was nearly R22m.
The defence vote remains virtually stagnant - when accounting for inflation - in the three-year period with the budget projected to be R22.2bn this year, rising to R24.7bn next year and to R25.3bn in 2006/07, but falling to R25.2bn in 2007/08. The average annual growth in defence spending in this period is 4.3%, according to the MTBPS.
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Bert, Hear Hear
It has been said on one of the forums before, that we wonder if Mbeki had to have a vasectomy, would he insist that the surgeon be locally trained!?
Methinks NOT!!!
It has been said on one of the forums before, that we wonder if Mbeki had to have a vasectomy, would he insist that the surgeon be locally trained!?
Methinks NOT!!!
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Heard the Prez is not going to Abuja (AU meeting on the Ivory Coast) on Sunday due to a trip to Brussles for an EU meeting (Mon-Wed). Considering the Abidjan and Cairo flights the last few days and the SAAF's rumoured cockpit crew Prezjet compliment, just wondering if the SAAF has FDP restrictions as well?
FDP = Flight & Duty Periods, or;
FDP = Fiscal & Defence Problems?
Just asking...
FDP = Flight & Duty Periods, or;
FDP = Fiscal & Defence Problems?
Just asking...
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FDP = Fiscal & Defence Problems?
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Well,well,well, the numbers might differ a little on the various items : so much for the BBJ and so much for the interior. Both added was R 600 million.
If the aircraft cost was half of that, the other half was definitely the interior. Now, I was in Jet Aviaition in Basel (Switzerland) where the machine was furnished with all the gold taps etc, with mr XYZ and have seen the documents regarding total cost : R600 million in 2002, even have the photograghs of the machine with ZS.... Does the interior justify R300 million ?? NO!!!!
Some more facts : flight to Cape Town from FAWK. Cost for 14 passengers meals on a two hour flight :R 27000-00 !!!!! Come on mr Mbeki, how do you or ANYBODY justify that kind of expenditure ? O, of course, some funds could have been diverted to some ex state president's children fund, especially if his childrens fund paid for his daughters marriage and the full entourage accomodation in a luxurious Sandton hotel....
Sorry, I am of the point, but is it about extreme expenditures ???
If the aircraft cost was half of that, the other half was definitely the interior. Now, I was in Jet Aviaition in Basel (Switzerland) where the machine was furnished with all the gold taps etc, with mr XYZ and have seen the documents regarding total cost : R600 million in 2002, even have the photograghs of the machine with ZS.... Does the interior justify R300 million ?? NO!!!!
Some more facts : flight to Cape Town from FAWK. Cost for 14 passengers meals on a two hour flight :R 27000-00 !!!!! Come on mr Mbeki, how do you or ANYBODY justify that kind of expenditure ? O, of course, some funds could have been diverted to some ex state president's children fund, especially if his childrens fund paid for his daughters marriage and the full entourage accomodation in a luxurious Sandton hotel....
Sorry, I am of the point, but is it about extreme expenditures ???
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124.8
Chill a bit. Im sure past Presidents have done the same thing. Hes the Head whatever now and will do as he sees fit.
I think the power to change things is gone. What you have to do now is either get a piece of the pie yourself or find another place to live.
As I said before, as soon as the tax base leaves he will be flying in his luxurious Antonov.......wont be tomorrow, but its gonna happen.
Chill a bit. Im sure past Presidents have done the same thing. Hes the Head whatever now and will do as he sees fit.
I think the power to change things is gone. What you have to do now is either get a piece of the pie yourself or find another place to live.
As I said before, as soon as the tax base leaves he will be flying in his luxurious Antonov.......wont be tomorrow, but its gonna happen.
Having been involved in the sale of biz jets to overseas clients, it never ceased to amaze me how much they spent to travel in luxury whilst their subjects were living in poverty.
Two of the biggest culprits were Nigeria and Tanzania but I doubt that this will shock many of you.
Two of the biggest culprits were Nigeria and Tanzania but I doubt that this will shock many of you.
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Go for it Mr President, sod the poor !!
STOP WHINING ALL OF YOU,
I think its bloody great that our government wants to invest tax payers money into aircraft as opposed to any other completely usless money pits that exist in our countries fiscus.
Airoplanes and helicopters need pilots to fly them, (thats us remember), more polititians in planes means more jobs for pilots, its about time that sefrican pilots jumbed onto the gravy train as well, so stop the bloody whining !!
Lets encourage our polititians to buy as many planes and helicopters as they can, we should even encourage fierce competition amongs them, "my planes bigger faster / more expensive than yours. " that will encourage them to buy bigger and better aeries for us to fly.
so what if the whole damn country is half starving while the president gets a 500 million buck aerie, those starving masses are the ones who democratically voted for this govenment, so they should not b1tch and moan about the way the president spends their money, or am I missing something about democracy here??
I say we should encourage every provincial premier to get a premier ! or citation or lear, the more expensive the better, and sod the starving masses who voted for this government, because as a white sefrican male, there arnt that many good carreer breaks around for us anymore and because i enjoy flying jets for a living and this would increase my chances of playing with, and getting paid to fly, these lekker aeries enormously !!
As pilots we should be trying to encourage the government into spending as much money as they can into cash streams that support and enhance our chosen carreer/proffessional line. This means aircraft and aviation support structures.
If every provincial premier got issued with a private jet, ( I can hear the DA party's parlimentary winging session already !), that would be 9 aircraft plus mabey a spare or two, say 11 planes at 3 pilots per aircraft (average crewing requirement per corporate jet), that would mean that there would be 33 new pilot jobs in the industry. Now imagine the highlife that those pilots would live. I have flown ministerial flights before and lets just say that you would not be accomodated at the holiday in , no sir this would be five star treatment we are talking Mount Nelson and Polana hotel stuff here plus expense accounts and crew entertainment allowances that go hand in hand with the job, wouldnt this be a great job ???
I think its bloody great that our government wants to invest tax payers money into aircraft as opposed to any other completely usless money pits that exist in our countries fiscus.
Airoplanes and helicopters need pilots to fly them, (thats us remember), more polititians in planes means more jobs for pilots, its about time that sefrican pilots jumbed onto the gravy train as well, so stop the bloody whining !!
Lets encourage our polititians to buy as many planes and helicopters as they can, we should even encourage fierce competition amongs them, "my planes bigger faster / more expensive than yours. " that will encourage them to buy bigger and better aeries for us to fly.
so what if the whole damn country is half starving while the president gets a 500 million buck aerie, those starving masses are the ones who democratically voted for this govenment, so they should not b1tch and moan about the way the president spends their money, or am I missing something about democracy here??
I say we should encourage every provincial premier to get a premier ! or citation or lear, the more expensive the better, and sod the starving masses who voted for this government, because as a white sefrican male, there arnt that many good carreer breaks around for us anymore and because i enjoy flying jets for a living and this would increase my chances of playing with, and getting paid to fly, these lekker aeries enormously !!
As pilots we should be trying to encourage the government into spending as much money as they can into cash streams that support and enhance our chosen carreer/proffessional line. This means aircraft and aviation support structures.
If every provincial premier got issued with a private jet, ( I can hear the DA party's parlimentary winging session already !), that would be 9 aircraft plus mabey a spare or two, say 11 planes at 3 pilots per aircraft (average crewing requirement per corporate jet), that would mean that there would be 33 new pilot jobs in the industry. Now imagine the highlife that those pilots would live. I have flown ministerial flights before and lets just say that you would not be accomodated at the holiday in , no sir this would be five star treatment we are talking Mount Nelson and Polana hotel stuff here plus expense accounts and crew entertainment allowances that go hand in hand with the job, wouldnt this be a great job ???
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...Except that the vast majority who voted these rectums in are not the ones footing most of the tax bill. Stings my ring having little or no say in how MY money is wasted.
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Its not just the 3rd World which raises the question of the use of Presidential jets. How can the US justify, in terms of an election fought on equal terms , the use by the incumbent of Air Force One and the Presidential helicopters while the contender has to charter whatever he can find and afford. Wonderful role model for less developed countries,-just like hanging chads etc.
These problems are not just African,- lets not forget what happens in the rest of the world, which makes misbehaviour here far from unique or indeed surprising. Where are the role models? President Tone of what is effectively a one party parliament in the UK?
These problems are not just African,- lets not forget what happens in the rest of the world, which makes misbehaviour here far from unique or indeed surprising. Where are the role models? President Tone of what is effectively a one party parliament in the UK?
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Skylion, firstly the U.S. can afford it. Second its part of the deal. As Sitting president he may be campaigning but is also acting as President and receives the security and tools required to do his work.
Its non political, in that it goes with any President in office.
The challenger(s) get the same security, it thier particular party has to find transporation.
I certainly have no problem with Imbecki having a nice jet. He represents South Africa.
Its non political, in that it goes with any President in office.
The challenger(s) get the same security, it thier particular party has to find transporation.
I certainly have no problem with Imbecki having a nice jet. He represents South Africa.
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B Souza,- all very well if one sees it that way, but in UK the roles of the Prime Minister for a) the Government and b ) his party are entirely separate. Hence any expenses of the election campaign are entirely down to ther party and he can not fly around on the RAF or anyone else at taxpayers expense. In this way , he and the challenger(s) are as nearly as is possible on equal footing. One would think thats more like true democracy.
Whether the contry is rich or poor makes no difference. Freebies for its leaders at hard pressed taxpayers expense are simply wrong, so saying its OK in the USA but not in SA doesnt hold water.
Whether the contry is rich or poor makes no difference. Freebies for its leaders at hard pressed taxpayers expense are simply wrong, so saying its OK in the USA but not in SA doesnt hold water.
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The government does not seem too keen to have AA pilots on their own planes.
Solid rust twotter
Our tax money is being wasted anyway, might as well have it wasted in our direction.
B Sousa
I am not partcularly concerned about unqualifeid PD pilots getting into ministerial pilot positions (even though this entire scenario in hyperthetical at the moment) , although suitably qualified PD pilots should be no problem.
The present government may be corrupt but the're not stupid, not even Thabo m'Beki would not let a newly qualified PD BEE doctor perform his vasectomy.
While the government is keen to punt affirmative action all around many of the high level ministers and PD bussinessmen appear to be loath to take on poorly qualified AA pilots themselves when they know that there own arse is on the line.
One thing that one notices about high level government flights is that the cockpit crew are largely composed of lighter coloured south africans, even other african leaders presidential jets usually have at least one lightly coloured pilot up front. Even old Bob Mugabe had honkey pilots for years before taking indigineous Zimbabwean pilots to fly the presidential jet/s
I remember an incident where Jay Naidoo, remeber him the minister without portfolio, refused to board an airforce plane piloted by 2 newly qualified PD chaps, because as he put it, " the cockpit crew did not fully represent the south african demographic" in other words he wanted an experienced white guy in the cockpit somewhere as opposed to the 2 qualified but inexperienced AA chaps.
Even SAA appears to have dropped the whole AA pilot thing for the time being.
Our tax money is being wasted anyway, might as well have it wasted in our direction.
B Sousa
I am not partcularly concerned about unqualifeid PD pilots getting into ministerial pilot positions (even though this entire scenario in hyperthetical at the moment) , although suitably qualified PD pilots should be no problem.
The present government may be corrupt but the're not stupid, not even Thabo m'Beki would not let a newly qualified PD BEE doctor perform his vasectomy.
While the government is keen to punt affirmative action all around many of the high level ministers and PD bussinessmen appear to be loath to take on poorly qualified AA pilots themselves when they know that there own arse is on the line.
One thing that one notices about high level government flights is that the cockpit crew are largely composed of lighter coloured south africans, even other african leaders presidential jets usually have at least one lightly coloured pilot up front. Even old Bob Mugabe had honkey pilots for years before taking indigineous Zimbabwean pilots to fly the presidential jet/s
I remember an incident where Jay Naidoo, remeber him the minister without portfolio, refused to board an airforce plane piloted by 2 newly qualified PD chaps, because as he put it, " the cockpit crew did not fully represent the south african demographic" in other words he wanted an experienced white guy in the cockpit somewhere as opposed to the 2 qualified but inexperienced AA chaps.
Even SAA appears to have dropped the whole AA pilot thing for the time being.
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It's hard enough to find work in our industry as it is. Most other industries get some kind of subsidy. So instead of throwing tax-payers money down the drain on social nonsense, spend it on loads of nice new aireys! Create jobs for pilots.......That's what I say!
More 74s, more BBJs, lots of G4s & G5s a few Hawkers and RJs.
The more the merryer!
V1
More 74s, more BBJs, lots of G4s & G5s a few Hawkers and RJs.
The more the merryer!
V1
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Problem is the okes who have to cough up to keep it flying aren't going to get those jobs unless the AAs gooi a wobbly and get Mbeki to kak in his rods in which case they won't be able to get enough of us.
