SA : Min Lekota defends a/c deal
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SA : Min Lekota defends a/c deal
From News 24
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has defended government's green light to the
procurement of military transport aircraft from Europe's Airbus Military.
He divulged that South Africa would have a 5% stake in the A400M programme
with spin-offs for South Africa's military aircraft industry.
He also told members of the National Assembly on Wednesday that the
programme would underpin jobs in the military industrial sector.
He was responding to a question from the Democratic Alliance's Moulana MR
Sayedali-Shah who asked whether the SA Army was consulted over the
procurement of the A400M military transport aircraft, and whether the deal
complied with the constitution.
Lekota said it was important to take into account that South Africa had been
invited by Europeans "to take a stake in the company producing the A400Ms".
This matter had been taken to cabinet.
"Part of the advantage would be that we would produce in South Africa...
part of the A400M."
He said the negotiating process to purchase between eight and 10 of the
aircraft had not by-passed tender procedures or the constitution.
"No purchase has been done yet."
Asked by African Christian Democratic Party MP Louis Green how big the stake
in the company would be, he did not provide a figure but said it would be
"about 5% of the company".
Noting sensitivity to the controversy in the media over the previous
multi-billion rand arms deal - relating to the purchase of fighter and
training aircraft and navy equipment from Europe - the minister said: "In
the very near future we will start the process of negotiating procurement.
There seems to be an assumption or misunderstanding that we have by-passed
the tender process... there is no question of transgressing the
constitution, we can't afford that."
"We are not prepared to create an atmosphere... of questioning the
acquisition of national defence force equipment," he said.
The A400M, 180 examples of which were ordered in May 2003 by seven European
Nato nations, will first fly in 2008 with deliveries beginning from 2009.
procurement of military transport aircraft from Europe's Airbus Military.
He divulged that South Africa would have a 5% stake in the A400M programme
with spin-offs for South Africa's military aircraft industry.
He also told members of the National Assembly on Wednesday that the
programme would underpin jobs in the military industrial sector.
He was responding to a question from the Democratic Alliance's Moulana MR
Sayedali-Shah who asked whether the SA Army was consulted over the
procurement of the A400M military transport aircraft, and whether the deal
complied with the constitution.
Lekota said it was important to take into account that South Africa had been
invited by Europeans "to take a stake in the company producing the A400Ms".
This matter had been taken to cabinet.
"Part of the advantage would be that we would produce in South Africa...
part of the A400M."
He said the negotiating process to purchase between eight and 10 of the
aircraft had not by-passed tender procedures or the constitution.
"No purchase has been done yet."
Asked by African Christian Democratic Party MP Louis Green how big the stake
in the company would be, he did not provide a figure but said it would be
"about 5% of the company".
Noting sensitivity to the controversy in the media over the previous
multi-billion rand arms deal - relating to the purchase of fighter and
training aircraft and navy equipment from Europe - the minister said: "In
the very near future we will start the process of negotiating procurement.
There seems to be an assumption or misunderstanding that we have by-passed
the tender process... there is no question of transgressing the
constitution, we can't afford that."
"We are not prepared to create an atmosphere... of questioning the
acquisition of national defence force equipment," he said.
The A400M, 180 examples of which were ordered in May 2003 by seven European
Nato nations, will first fly in 2008 with deliveries beginning from 2009.
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And then this!!! My word!!
Also from News24:
Also from News24:
Johannesburg - Serious shortages on the defence force's operational budget have made it very difficult to implement certain of the new multimillion rand weaponry.
The navy, for example, has a R53m budget deficit on its operational budget, which means that it has to place operational units on a lower level of alertness to compensate for this.
The initial cost estimations of the new corvettes' operation costs were "unrealistic" and are being recalculated.
This has come to light in answers to written questions in parliament from the African National Congress's Gerhard Koornhof to Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.
The navy is particularly strapped by the shortages, which have been predicted by experts some time ago, as far as the delivery of new equipment such as the four corvettes go.
As far as the air force's delivery schedule for new planes is concerned, the delivery of the new Agusta helicopters has already been delayed for more than two years.
Certain of the corvettes' specifications had to be "watered down" although they were still completed within the guidelines of the end user's specification.
The procurement project for the corvettes made provision for providing all necessary components. However, only limited components will now be delivered because of a shortage of money. This makes it very difficult for the navy to decide which parts to take and which to leave.
Meanwhile, the navy has managed to secure an additional R63m over the next three years from the treasury to get the corvettes operational. However, this still leaves the navy with a 50% deficit.
The navy further requested that the about R50m raised from the sale of the SAS Outeniqua be added to its operational budget.
Apart from these problems, the navy is about 40% understaffed at present and can afford only 6 500 personnel. About 60% of the navy's total budget goes towards salaries, which leaves about 40% for operational expenses.
Transported per ship
Recent reports indicated that problems with putting the navy's submarines into service and the timely training of a representative crew could mean that the submarines have to be transported to South Africa per ship.
Delays in the delivery of the Agusta helicopters are causing huge problems for the air force in planning for the withdrawal of the Alouette helicopters.
The main reason for the delay is the fact that the manufacturer has not been able to completely certify the helicopters for operational use. The helicopters should have been delivered last year, but will now be delivered only in the second half of 2005.
These delays have apparently also had financial implications for Denel Aviation, which will manufacture most of the helicopters locally as a subcontractor.
"General" shortages of enough aircrew and technical staff are affecting all helicopter squadrons in the air force. The training of personnel is "seriously affected" by the late delivery of the Agustas.
The navy, for example, has a R53m budget deficit on its operational budget, which means that it has to place operational units on a lower level of alertness to compensate for this.
The initial cost estimations of the new corvettes' operation costs were "unrealistic" and are being recalculated.
This has come to light in answers to written questions in parliament from the African National Congress's Gerhard Koornhof to Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota.
The navy is particularly strapped by the shortages, which have been predicted by experts some time ago, as far as the delivery of new equipment such as the four corvettes go.
As far as the air force's delivery schedule for new planes is concerned, the delivery of the new Agusta helicopters has already been delayed for more than two years.
Certain of the corvettes' specifications had to be "watered down" although they were still completed within the guidelines of the end user's specification.
The procurement project for the corvettes made provision for providing all necessary components. However, only limited components will now be delivered because of a shortage of money. This makes it very difficult for the navy to decide which parts to take and which to leave.
Meanwhile, the navy has managed to secure an additional R63m over the next three years from the treasury to get the corvettes operational. However, this still leaves the navy with a 50% deficit.
The navy further requested that the about R50m raised from the sale of the SAS Outeniqua be added to its operational budget.
Apart from these problems, the navy is about 40% understaffed at present and can afford only 6 500 personnel. About 60% of the navy's total budget goes towards salaries, which leaves about 40% for operational expenses.
Transported per ship
Recent reports indicated that problems with putting the navy's submarines into service and the timely training of a representative crew could mean that the submarines have to be transported to South Africa per ship.
Delays in the delivery of the Agusta helicopters are causing huge problems for the air force in planning for the withdrawal of the Alouette helicopters.
The main reason for the delay is the fact that the manufacturer has not been able to completely certify the helicopters for operational use. The helicopters should have been delivered last year, but will now be delivered only in the second half of 2005.
These delays have apparently also had financial implications for Denel Aviation, which will manufacture most of the helicopters locally as a subcontractor.
"General" shortages of enough aircrew and technical staff are affecting all helicopter squadrons in the air force. The training of personnel is "seriously affected" by the late delivery of the Agustas.
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I dont for one second believe that this deal for the 400, will be without hidden agendas etc. Nobody in our governmunt will make any decisions, unless there is great personal financial gain to be made. Just wait and see, the inquiries will follow shortly, costing us all a packet.....just you wait.....
African mentality at its best......
African mentality at its best......
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Yet not a word of complaint from the media/public/govt/whatever. Seems we're getting used to corruption and poor service delivery. Only a matter of time before Kinshasa looks like a good place to take your family to escape the crime and corruption.
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Well the whole problem is, who does one turn to, to solve the problem. The cops...? hee hee, the time of moral, non corrupt, intelligent, sensible, etc etc governance is gone. Welcome to the African way, hopefully SA will be as successful as the rest of africa. At least I can see that they (governmunt) are striving to be like the rest of their buddies. Go guys....fame awaits you all, Lets all be like the rest of Africa.....successful and corruption free...MWHOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
