Question NW3260 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
27 November 2017 - NW3260
Esau, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
(1)With reference to the reported alienation of the MIG-21 fighter aircraft from the SA Air Force (SAAF) Museum at the Zwartkop Airforce Base, which the President of the Republic, Mr J G Zuma, allegedly gave as a present to the new Angolan President, what are the details of the (a) processes and procedures that need to be followed when the SAAF wants to dispose of an aircraft preserved by the SAAF Museum which is on the SAAF asset register and (b) public participation processes in this regard; (2) were any of the alienation and public participation processes followed; if not, in each case, why not; if so, what are the details from the processes that were followed; (3) (a) why was the aircraft allegedly given as a present to the new Angolan President, (b) what benefits will be received by the country and the SAAF Museum at the Zwartkop Airforce Base specifically, (c) what was the costs of (i) disposing and (ii) transporting the aircraft to Angola and (d)(i) how will the loss of this aircraft impact on the tourists and visitors to the SAAF Museum and (ii) how will this loss be made up in the future?
Reply:
1 and 2:
The Aircraft was not donated but returned back to the Angolans, this is evident in the history of the Aircraft.
All legal requirements were met since all necessary documentation including the necessary authority for the movement of Arms across the boarders was acquired from the Arms Control Board as regulated.