No one has answers on Guptas' aircraft

02 May 2013 - 02:30 By GRAEME HOSKEN and SCHALK MOUTON
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Tony Gupta and President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, The Guptas have been accused of flouting SA's laws.
Tony Gupta and President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, The Guptas have been accused of flouting SA's laws.

It is "extremely unusual" for a commercial aircraft to land at a military air base.

"This is not something that normally happens at military air bases," said defence analyst Helmoed Heitman.

"Arrangements are made to receive commercial aircraft such as [for] heads of state or VIPs as was the case during the Soccer World Cup," he said.

Another expert said this was "highly irregular".

"It appears to be in serious violation of numerous military protocols.

"The protocols exist at Air Force base Waterkloof for the handling of civilians such as heads of state, which none of the more than 200 passengers were.

"Serious questions need to be asked and people such as the defence minister need to be held accountable," said the analyst, who asked not to be named.

"The Air Force is not an independent arm of the Defence Force. Its chief would have received instructions from his chief - in this case the SANDF chief, General Solly Shoke - who would have received instructions from his chief, the minister of defence. It's that simple, and if they say otherwise they are lying."

Sonwabo Mbananga, spokesman for Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, yesterday said: "The minister never authorised such a thing.''

Several government departments, including the SANDF and SARS, have launched investigations into what appeared to be a breach of regulations and the security of one of the country's national key points.

According to SARS spokesman Adrian Lackey, there were no customs officials present at the base to receive international visitors.

"In terms of the Customs and Excise Act, the Waterkloof Air Force base is not designated as an international commercial airport," said Lackay.

"For this reason, SARS customs does not have a permanent presence at the base."

While special permission can be granted for an aircraft to land at an airport that is not designated as an international airport, and provision made to clear its goods and passengers, this [was] not done.

DA MP and Safety and Security spokesman Dianne Kohler Barnard "could not understand" how permission was given for the aircraft to land.

"It is not an official government visit," she said.

"The departments of Police, Defence and Home Affairs have some serious questions to answer," she said, adding that she had already written to the relevant ministers to get answers on who gave the green light for the plane to land at the air base.

Home Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said immigration officials had been notified of the inbound flights and had sent the necessary personnel to the airport. "As per regulations, the passengers were all checked, travel documents verified and processed," he said.

Mamoepa declined to comment on who had authorised the aircraft landings.

Said Kohler Barnard: "The Guptas are supporters of the ANC and their friends are in the cabinet and will also be sitting at the wedding. For the ANC to say 'I'm shocked' is the most cynical statement I have heard in 10 years."

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