Zuma to get new jet by April

At least one presidential jet must be on the tarmac of Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria by April 1 because Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is “fed up” about VIP jets being unavailable.

Last week, City Press’ sister paper, Rapport, revealed that a new long-range presidential jet  which would seat 30 passengers and contain a private bedroom suite, a bathroom and a conference room for eight people, and could cost up to R4 billion if purchased new  was being procured by the SA Air Force.

The new aircraft’s specifications were contained in a detailed request for information that Armscor, the army’s acquisition agent, issued a week ago.

This document, which City Press has seen, stands in stark contrast with Armscor and the air force’s claims this week that their request for information was not binding and was merely being used to determine what the options were for a second jet.

However, the air force is in fact working to make a purchase soon  with the request for information from interested parties due on Friday. Final presentations from preferred suppliers need to have been considered by mid-January.


This is the first time the air force has stated a need for an aircraft that can fly non-stop to New York or Moscow with 30 passengers on board. The original statement of requirement in 2011, which was approved by Treasury and seen by Rapport, was for six new VIP aircraft.

All six were to be purchased for R2 billion, but a single aircraft can cost up to double that amount. An offer was made to an aircraft manufacturer three years ago for the six planes.