Alternative arrangements had to be made to get President Jacob Zuma back to South Africa in time for centenary celebrations of the University of Fort Hare.
It was the second time in a week that the presidential jet was mentioned in a statement by the Presidency.
It announced that Zuma had landed in Pretoria on Friday morning‚ “returning from a successful state visit to Qatar”‚ but added that the aircraft “used by the president‚ Inkwazi‚ developed technical problems in Qatar resulting in the use of an alternative aircraft”.
Last week‚ the Presidency pointed out that reports that a technical fault was experienced with Inkwazi while in Uganda were erroneous.
“The Presidency wishes to confirm that the plane did not experience any technical problems or malfunction of any nature during the visit to Uganda‚” it said in a statement.
It explained that given information at her disposal at the time‚ Defence Water Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane had indicated last Friday that the plane had malfunctioned.
“The Presidency subsequently updated the Minister‚” it stated.
Zuma was in the Ugandan capital Kampala to attend the inauguration of President Yoweri Museveni for his fifth term of office since 1986.
Also last week‚ Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane urged Zuma to reverse Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s decision‚ to acquire a new jet to replace Inkwazi. – TMG Digital
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