By Amanda Khoza, News24
Durban –The Presidential Handbook does nothing more than hand President Jacob Zuma’s cronies a blank cheque, the Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister in the Presidency said on Saturday.
Sejamothopo Motau’s statements come a day after the Presidency announced that the handbook was officially a public document.
Criticising some of the guidelines, Motau said the 20 page document was “written with Zuma’s lifestyle in mind” and “explains why he has failed to denounce the purchase of a new VIP aircraft for his personal use, at a cost of up to R4 billion.”
Motau said: “The handbook limits the use of commercial flights to the deputy president and only in special circumstances, conveniently giving Zuma an excuse not to follow the example set by other heads of state.”
Read also: Students want answers from Zuma. Jet, Nkandla but no Fees.
“It further allows the president to invite passengers to accompany him or her, provided that there is space. Inkwazi, the current presidential jet, has luxury seating for 18 people and a range of 6200 nautical miles.
“This is clearly insufficient for the needs of Zuma as the tender document attained from Armscor specifies an extravagant jet with a range of 7200 miles and room for 30 passengers on-board.”
Motau said: “Read together, the tender document and the handbook made it clear that the motivation for the new jet is Zuma’s desire to travel further, in greater luxury, with more of his cronies on board, all at the taxpayers’ expense.”
Read also: Nkandla: Madonsela remains optimistic Zuma will “pay back the money”
He said the handbook should serve to place firm limits on presidential expenditure to prevent the abuse of state funds.
“Instead it merely serves to provide guidance on who can be scapegoated by stating which departments foot the bill for various expenses, such as Department of Defence in the case of Nkandla Air.” – News24
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/da-handbook-will-benefit-zumas-cronies-20151129
