The defence force and Armscor, the military's acquisitions arm, have been forced onto the defensive by a report suggesting that Pretoria is in the market for a R4-billion presidential jet. At a hastily convened press conference yesterday, Armscor chief executive Kevin Wakeford said the claimed R4-billion price tag was ''trash'' and not affordable, that no tender had been invited, and that there would be no financial ''recklessness'' involved in a purchase.This is all very reassuring - even if Armscor won't say how much it does intend to spend - but the defence minister wants a solution by March.There are many reasons for not rushing into purchasing a top-of-the-range presidential jet - and quite a few of them having nothing to do with flying.The government, after caving in to students' demands for fee increases next year to be scrapped, is scrambling to find the R2.9-billion required to keep its promise. And we are not talking about the real elephant in the room - the R40-billion or so that will be required for the state to meet the students' longer-term demand for free university education for the poor.Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who has done sterling work in holding state agencies and powerful individuals to account, is being subjected to a cash-squeeze that weakens her office's investigative capacity.Many public schools and state hospitals are under-staffed and under-resourced.The Treasury's contingency reserve has been gobbled up to feed the public sector's ballooning wage bill.Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people go to bed hungry on most nights.Procuring a new VVIP jet under these conditions would be obscene.South Africa cannot afford an Air Force One.Lease a second-hand passenger jet from SAA, Mr President, and refit it if you can't fly on a commercial airline. Show some leadership and save us some money...