The star News Online
Monday, December 11, 2006
While a new "gravy plane" storm rages around Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, her media spokesperson says it is worrying that intimate details regarding her travel arrangements are constantly made public.
Thabang Chiloane yesterday warned of the dangers of this security breach, saying that while his office "as a matter of course" informed the media of her movements, other confidential details were often "leaked".
The number of security officials with her, and where and at what time she would depart and land were not meant to be made public and constituted a security breach.
Chiloane said it was clear that someone was leaking information to the media without considering that the deputy president's life could be endangered.
As an example, Chiloane used the latest furore about the aircraft chartered from Switzerland at a cost of R4,5-million to the taxpayer to fly her to Britain.
He said Mlambo-Ngcuka had repeatedly asked why the air force could not use one of its planes; her office only learnt through the media that there were no pilots available.
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota was outraged at the cost, and on Saturday he said that neither the ministry, nor acting chief of the SANDF Lieutenant-General Solly Shoke, nor defence secretary and accounting officer January Masilela had been approached for formal approval of the expenditure.
A board of inquiry would be called to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, SABC radio news reported that President Thabo Mbeki said those responsible for the deputy president's travel arrangements should account for any wrongdoing.