Mbeki defends Phumzile's trip

2006-02-09 16:09

Cape Town - Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka's use of an SA air force jet to fly to Abu Dhabi and back on holiday at the end of last year was correct in terms of security arrangements, President Thabo Mbeki told MPs on Thursday.

Responding in the national assembly to debate on his state of the nation address, he said security arrangements since 1994 and before, called for both the president and deputy president to be provided with 24-hour protection.

This meant that when they travelled by air, "unless the circumstances make this impossible, they travel in planes provided, managed and flown by the SA air force".

These transport arrangements, which were an integral part of the security system decided exclusively by the state security services and not the president or deputy president, applied regardless of destination and the purpose of travel.

"The SA air force therefore carried the deputy president to and from Abu Dhabi as the security regulations require," he said.

This had been the only cost of the deputy president's holiday that had accrued to the state.

"All other expenses incurred by the deputy president by going on holiday were met entirely by the deputy president, with absolutely no charge to the state."

Mbeki said unless security arrangements were changed, it would remain the responsibility of the police and the air force to transport the deputy president to her holiday destination.

"I trust that after this explanation nobody will find it impermissible that she should continue to be provided with security on a 24-hour basis, which includes the periods when she is on holiday," he said.

Mbeki made no mention of the cost of the flight, which the Democratic Alliance has said cost taxpayers more than R700 000.

The president also made no mention of the furore over the fact that Mlambo-Ngcuka was accompanied on the flight by Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya, the wife of Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya.

- SAPA