Come Fly with me

Outcry over Ramaphosa’s Gupta flight

The country’s two biggest opposition parties have vowed to get to the bottom of whether proper procurement processes were followed when a jet belonging to the Gupta family was used to fly Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and a government delegation to Japan.

Eyewitness news reported on Wednesday that the department of defence hired the Bombardier Aerospace, registered to Westdawn Investments, and owned by the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane.

The jet was reportedly hired through a government-managed contract with service provider ExecuJet.

“This then means that the family of President Zuma is benefiting directly from shoddy business dealings between the State and those who do not even blink an eye before financing the ever exorbitant lavish lifestyle of the President and his large family,” the EFF said in a statement.

The party said it would write to the ministers of defence and finance to check whether proper procurement processes were followed.

“We abhor the flourishing normalisation of corruption under President Zuma, wherein those close to the President and to the ANC get huge government contracts under questionable circumstances.”

The Democratic Alliance said it would submit a similar set of questions to the defence minister, and try to ascertain how much the flight cost the country’s taxpayers.

“The DoD (department of defence) claims they had no idea the plane belonged to the Guptas, saying that the leasing of planes – when the government planes are not available – is done through a central contract managed by the government through National Treasury,” the DA said.

“Given the fact that the Guptas are yet again involved with the Waterkloof Air Force Base, the questions surrounding this must be answered fully and urgently in the interests of transparency.”

In 2013, a private plane transporting a wedding party for the Gupta family, was allowed to land at the Waterkloof Air Force Base – with government denying that it was responsible, blaming an Indian diplomat for bypassing proper channels and misrepresenting the purpose of the flight.

ANA

Plane drama sees millions extra spent to hire jets to get Zuma home

Pretoria - Millions of rands extra had to be spent to get President Jacob Zuma back to South Africa after an official visit to Moscow.

By late on Tuesday, it was still not clear when he would land at Waterkloof air force base.

The original itinerary had Zuma landing at Waterkloof just after 07:00.

The drama began this weekend when Zuma attended the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation.

Technical problem

Beeld understands that Inkwazi, his official jet, developed a minor technical problem with the long-distance fuel system. It was not critical and would have simply meant a second refuelling stop, after Ankara, Turkey, in Entebbe, Uganda.

However, this was not deemed acceptable, and a plane was hired. This aircraft, from Longtail Aviation registered in the Bahamas, left Dubai in the Gulf to pick the president up.

Because of safety restrictions on crew hours, the plane could only be on the ground for a short period in Moscow.

But for unknown reasons, Zuma was apparently not at the airport in this short window, and the crew had to leave to rest in a hotel, in accordance with international regulations.

The arrangements were then taken out of the hands of the air force and went forward with the help of the SA ambassador in Moscow.

Third aircraft

A third aircraft was then arranged to bring the president back to South Africa. It is not known to whom this aircraft belonged.

The hired Bahamas plane was sent back to Dubai, but the air force is still liable for the R2 million that the full flight to South Africa and back to Dubai would have cost.

Meanwhile, the air force jet left Moscow and as planned, stopped to refuel in Ankara and Entebbe. It was expected to land at Waterkloof before Zuma, despite the extra stop.

The air force, Defence Department and the Presidency on Tuesday repeatedly referred Beeld’s questions to each other for comment.

The Presidency had announced on Tuesday morning that Zuma would not be back in time to launch a Home Affairs service delivery programme. “The president will return to the country from Russia later than planned,” the statement said.

- NEWS24

1-Time

Is this Zuma's Nkandla in the sky?

The luxury Boeing 727-200 that President Jacob Zuma charters when the official presidential jet, Inkwazi, is in for maintenance has gone on sale - allowing the public a look at the lavish interior Zuma enjoys.

The Boeing is owned and operated by local company Fortune Air and is being sold by Wentworth & Affiliates Inc.

The adverton Wentworth's website states that the 1982 aircraft has a "new 2008 designer interior" with a "gorgeous paint scheme in navy, white and gold", and a "private stateroom with VIP lavatory with shower, and adjoining office".

The aircraft has 5600 hours on the clock and seats 45.

Zuma has used the jet on many official visits over the past three months to the US, Russia and China.

Experts believe it will sell for about R33-million.

David Maynier, the DA shadow minister of defence, said: "If the standby Boeing 727-200 is sold, President Jacob Zuma may finally be forced to abandon his Mobuto-chic jet and fly SAA during the Boeing Business Jet's next maintenance period."

- Timeslive

Lindiwe flies to India to say "We also own Mahatma Gandhi ji"

As her country marks 20 years of independence, Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu – South Africa’s Minister of Human Settlements – makes her first-ever visit to India, to “express gratitude for India’s support in their freedom struggle”. Next year, South Africa will celebrate 100 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s historic journey from South Africa to India.

Excerpts from an interview:

There is a big ethnic Indian community in South Africa. What is their role in public life and in economy?

Indians, or Asians for that matter, are entrepreneurial by nature. They contribute a lot to our economy. Many of them have been there for generations, and we don’t consider them as Indians or Asians. They are Africans, just like us. In the official population register though, we have to categorise our citizens as “Asians” or “Whites” or “Coloured”, but that’s for representational purposes. In fact, we are moving towards eliminating that.

Two decades after independence, what is the state of women in South African society?

We have exceeded expectations in women’s representation within the country. In fact, now there is a law which ensures 50 per cent representation of women in every government community/institution. But having said that, patriarchy is still deep-seated in our society. For example, when it comes to land holdings, women may have access to land but their ownership is very very limited.

How does South Africa view its ties with India?

India is our closest ally in Asia. Together, we are part of BRICS as well as IBSA. We have learnt a lot from India in terms of housing solutions. Recently, we have established a National Development Plan, modelled on India’s Planning Commission. Besides, there always the shared legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Early next year, we are going to celebrate 100 years of his moving from South Africa to India, and his philosophy of passive resistance to oppression, in a big way.

What are the celebrations going to be like?

No finer details have been worked out as yet. In fact, since Mahatma Gandhi ji belongs to India as well as South Africa, I invite suggestions from the Indian government and citizens alike on how best to celebrate his legacy in an inclusive way. But we are going to invite the heads of Indian government here, and the Indian National Congress for the celebrations. Celebrating Gandhi is our way of telling the world that we also own Mahatma Gandhi ji. Even though India owns some of him, we own the better part of him.

- Indianexpress

The Big Read: Jacob Zuma's Flying Circus

Poor Lynne Brown. Poor, sad Lynne Brown. What a terrible situation to find oneself in. She is, ostensibly, the minister of public enterprises.

She is not. A mere glance at what she has been going through at SAA makes it clear that she is a mere seat-warmer, an empty suit, an effigy on a chair.

The decisions are made elsewhere. The minister exists merely to take the blame when it will, inevitably, need to be apportioned. She is waiting to be blamed for something at SAA for which she is not responsible.

SAA is now nothing less than a comedy show. Just like the SABC. Just like the Post Office. Just like Eskom. Just like our parliament.

Events at SAA have been more than sad to watch. It is a microcosm of everything that is going wrong with our government and our politics. It is a hive of the politics of patronage, cronyism, sloth and failure. It is an example of men and women of integrity failing to stop and ask: Why am I doing all this for one man?

The SAA chairman, Dudu Myeni, who has been named by the Mail & Guardian newspaper as currently engaged in, or having engaged in, an intimate relationship with the president of our republic, has been running rings around Brown for months. Her word seems to be taken as that of an anointed leader rather than that of someone who has to comply, like the rest of us, with the rules of corporate governance.

First, she lied to SAA by claiming that she has a bachelor of arts degree, which she doesn't.

Over the past fortnight she has rushed to change her story and now claims that she had merely forgotten to say that she had not completed two major courses for the degree.

It is not a degree, darling, until you have completed your majors, passed the exams and received a degree from the institution.

In this regard she is at one with other leaders of our state-owned enterprises. At the SABC we have the chairman of the board - also linked several times to the president of the republic - taking parliament to court for asking her to produce her degree after she lied about graduating from Unisa as a bachelor of commerce.

The chief operating officer of the SABC claimed he had a matric when he did not.

None of the three is out of a job.

Lesson to our kids: Don't worry about study and application. Just lie, or sleep, your way to the top.

Two weeks ago Myeni suspended SAA CEO Monwabisi Kalawe. The minister, who has fired a whole board to accommodate Myeni, ordered her to lift the suspension.

Myeni told a shareholder meeting, and the minister in writing, that Kalawe's suspension had been lifted.

However, inquiries by Business Day revealed that the airline was claiming that Kalawe was "on leave". His access to his office was blocked. His was locked out of his e-mail.

SAA appointed an acting CEO, Nico Bezuidenhout, claiming that Kalawe was on "special leave". Kalawe's lawyer said this was a "blatant lie".

And so it is that, for the second time now, Myeni has defied Brown's orders as the shareholder representative and gone ahead and done what she deems fit.

What is her power?

Is it because she is the chairman of the Jacob Zuma Foundation? Is it because her son has been "integrated" into the Zuma family? Is it because she is known to drop Zuma's name in conversation?

What has happened to Lynne Brown? This is a stalwart of the struggle. This is a woman generally perceived to be a person of integrity and honesty.

How exactly does a person like this end up in a mess in which she becomes an apologist for the absolute nonsense that is taking place at SAA?

How does she manage to sleep at night when yet another Zuma untouchable runs amok at the national airline?

She is not the only one. Two weeks ago Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president, went to parliament to tell the National Assembly that the president of the republic would not be fulfilling his constitutional duty of appearing before the house at least four times a year.

Last Thursday we saw the good men and women of the ANC united in defending - to the point of fisticuffs - the president of South Africa's wanton theft of R246-million of taxpayers' money.

They howled and threatened violence in defence of Zuma.

Do ANC MPs actually believe that the security upgrading at Zuma's private homestead are justified at R246-million? Including the million-rand cattle kraal?

The answer doesn't matter. Last week, like sheep, they were happy to endorse this theft of taxpayers' money as they adopted a sham of a report authored by six of their own exonerating Zuma - again.

Why have the good people of the ANC become so fearful and useless?

What has happened to their backbone? Where is the ANC?

- Timeslive

Zuma used chartered flight to US at a cost of around R6 million

President Jacob Zuma used a chartered plane to travel to the United States, the defence department said on Tuesday.

"The presidential aircraft is on a scheduled service and therefore not available. The option of chartering depends on the availability of the presidential aircraft," spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said.

He did not say how much the flight would cost, saying that was based on the National Treasury contract and the services rendered, and this would be reported in the department's annual report.

However, the SABC reported on Tuesday that the flight cost about R6 million.

Zuma arrived in the United States on Sunday. He was expected to address the United Nations general assembly meeting in New York on Wednesday.

His spokesman Mac Maharaj said the president would use the occasion to thank the UN and the international community for supporting South Africa as it marked 20 years of democracy.

Zuma would hold a special reception to thank the international community.

He would also attend a number of side events forming part of the UN assembly's programme, Maharaj said.

Zuma will be accompanied by Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, State Security Minister David Mahlobo, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, Co-operative Governance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Deputy Public Service and Administration Minister Ayanda Dlodlo.

In 2012, Mapisa-Nqakula cancelled plans to buy a R2 billion presidential jet.

She then reportedly said last year that the defence force would buy new presidential jets and planes as soon as possible.

She said the department was spending millions on chartering aircraft because many of the current planes were so old.

"Every week we pay millions of rand chartering aircraft for strategic airlift capability, which far exceeds the money we would have spent by purchasing," Mapisa-Nqakula said at the time.

"If you look at some of our aircraft, they're 60 to 62 years old and should be museum pieces. I won't elaborate on some of the experiences I've had..., but this process [to buy aircraft] must begin."

- SAPA

Lindiwe Sisulu Wastes More Money On Chartered Aircraft

In a recent reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of Public Service and Administration revealed that former Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, chartered two flights to Umtata in June and July of 2013 respectively.

According to the reply, the flights cost R132 569 and R146 132 respectively, totalling R278 702. South African Airways (SAA) on average has two flights available from Johannesburg to Umtata every day. The Minister could have saved the state more than R250 000 by simply flying SAA like everyone else.

I will submit further parliamentary questions as to ascertain the reasoning for chartering these flights and why the former Minister was unable to fly with SAA.

Minister Sisulu is well known for her tendency to charter private aircraft. During her tenure as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, she spent nearly R11 million travelling on Gulfstream jets between 2009 and 2012 and spent an average of R214 466 travelling on Gulfstream jets between Cape Town and Pretoria.

According to the Ministerial Handbook, Chapter 6, section 4.2.1, members may only under exceptional circumstances arrange chartered aircraft services:

If there are time constraints in reaching the destination;

Whether the services of commercial flights are not cost-effective and/or readily available; and Health reasons.

This tendency by Minister Sisulu to charter aircraft will be rigorously monitored, as the staggering and constant abuse of public money cannot be tolerated.

We will await the Minister's explanation for these lavish flights. If she does not have reasons in line with the Ministerial handbook's regulations we will report this abuse to the Public Protector.

Joe McGluwa, Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration

- allAfrica

Greedy MPs demand more gravy

South Africa's MPs have pushed through a massive travel benefit to ensure they get to lap up the parliamentary gravy for at least 10 years after they retire.

According to the proposal, MPs who retire will be able to get up to 24 free flights a year for 10 years - at taxpayers' expense.

Critics have blasted the scheme, saying it makes parliament little more than a glorified gravy plane. The perks also include free flights for spouses.

This latest proposal flies in the face of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's repeated calls for the restrained use of public money, including less travelling by public officials, and a litany of extreme examples of wasteful public expenditure such as Nkandlagate.

The benefit will apply to parliamentarians who do not make it back to the legislature after May's election, including disgraced former communications minister Dina Pule, who this week withdrew from the ANC's parliamentary list after a public outcry.

In terms of the new post-retirement travel benefit for MPs, adopted by parliament's oversight authority a fortnight ago, former MPs and their spouses will get between eight and 24 free flights a year over the next decade.

The authority recommends that retired MPs and their spouses be given free flights at taxpayers' expense based on the number of years they served in parliament.

In terms of the proposal, an MP would qualify for eight economy-class tickets a year for 10 years after serving one term, 16 such flights a year for 10 years after serving two terms, and 24 business-class tickets a year for 10 years after serving three terms in parliament.

Parliament's oversight authority also wants the retirement travel benefit extended to all 430 members of the nine provincial legislatures.

The oversight authority is the highest policymaking body for parliamentarians and comprises senior MPs, including speaker Max Sisulu, National Council of Provinces chairman Mninwa Mahlangu, ANC chief whip Stone Sizani and Democratic Alliance chief whip Watty Watson.

A Sunday Times calculation estimates that parliament would fork out R10,6-million a year or R106-million over 10 years if the benefit was extended to all 454 MPs and 430 members of provincial legislatures if they served at least one term.

Parliament's travel plans could still be halted if Gordhan decides against it because of the huge costs.

The proposal is contained in parliament's oversight authority's annual report for 2013, tabled recently.

It was made following a two-year review of parliament's travel facilities policy.

DA deputy chief whip Sandy Kalyan, who served on the task team that reviewed the travel policy, said the idea was to "level the playing field" between the benefits granted to former MPs and those given to former ministers and deputy ministers.

"Currently, former ministers and former deputy ministers are entitled to 78 single tickets per year and former MPs receive four tickets per year.

"We believed it to represent a disparity," said Kalyan.

Sisulu has now been instructed by parliament's oversight authority to discuss the implementation of this proposal with Gordhan and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in his capacity as leader of government business in parliament.

Parliament, which last year had a budget of more than R224-million to provide travel and other facilities to MPs, asked auditing firm KPMG to conduct an estimate of the costs. Spokesman Luzuko Jacobs has declined to provide the figure.

Gordhan's spokesman, Jabulani Sikhakhane, said the MPs had not yet taken their request to the Treasury.

"The ministry of finance has not been approached on this matter, but the financial implications of the proposal would have to be considered in the context of a constrained fiscal environment," said Sikhakhane.

An ANC MP and another one from the Congress of the People (COPE), who each requested to remain anonymous, said parliamentarians were entitled to free air travel in their retirement.

They dismissed suggestions that the benefit was an extended gravy plane, saying it allowed retired MPs to continue their work as community activists.

"People don't understand parliament and the work it does and the value people add.

"If you value parliamentary work, you will value the contribution that every member can make. But if you want to be dismissive of parliament, you will definitely see it as a problem," said the ANC MP.

The COPE MP said: "I know you guys in the media don't think so, but I definitely don't think it's unfair."

But the DA's Dianne Kohler Barnard expressed shock at the proposal.

"This is now ensuring that the length of the feeding trough is extended for another decade. Is there no end to the amount of money that the ANC people will wring out of taxpayers?"

She was adamant that retired MPs should not be entitled to such a perk.

"This is a massive expenditure on the part of the taxpayer.

"It's as though they [the government] think the taxpayer's pocket is infinitely deep and they will go on and on digging out the money."

The proposed retirement travel benefit would be an addition to existing perks enjoyed by serving MPs.

Each serving MP is entitled to 86 return domestic flights a year.

Their children who are still studying can also claim travel vouchers to fly between home and their place of study during holidays.

When travelling overseas on study tours, MPs fly business class.

Earlier this month, parliament also approved a "generous" leave policy for MPs.

It has granted 11 categories of leave for MPs, including "religious leave", five days leave to attend traditional initiation schools, leave for court appearances and leave to attend to private business activities.

Several years ago, a significant number of ANC MPs faced criminal charges after being implicated in a travel-voucher scam that involved the abuse of their travel privileges from parliament.

Some had used parliamentary travel vouchers to go on overseas holiday trips with their family members. 

- Timeslive

Sisulu's O3 addiction cost R11 Million in rentals

Two of President Jacob Zuma's senior cabinet ministers - public service's Lindiwe Sisulu and her defence counterpart, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula - are embroiled in a nasty row that is threatening to spill into South Africa's courts.

Details of the feud are contained in a series of explosive letters and documents that show Sisulu racked up an R11-million bill for chartered flights on a Gulfstream jet while she was defence minister.

Sisulu has accused her colleague of lying about the number of these flights, taken between September 2009 and February 2012.

The Sunday Times has seen the flight schedules and can today for the first time reveal the staggering cost to the taxpayer for trips between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria as well as several foreign destinations.

Mapisa-Nqakula, in a written response to parliament in October 2012, said Sisulu had taken 203 flights on the private jet. Sisulu has insisted she took only 35.

The ministers appear to be at odds over how to calculate those journeys.

Documents show that on one occasion, the jet took off from Lanseria airport, landed at Ysterplaat Air Force Base in Cape Town, headed to Durban, then on to Swartkop Air Force Base in Pretoria and returned to Lanseria. Sisulu maintains this is one trip; Mapisa-Nqakula's calculations put it at four. This flight cost taxpayers R241,154.

Three days later, the jet flew from Lanseria to OR Tambo International Airport and on to Cape Town before returning to Lanseria. This flight cost R162306.

Three days later, the jet travelled from Lanseria to Ysterplaat, then OR Tambo, before returning to Lanseria. This flight cost R171042.

According to Mapisa-Nqakula's parliamentary submission, Sisulu undertook regular journeys on the jet, including seven overseas trips.

Between May 24 and May 27 2010, Sisulu travelled to Uganda, Turkey, Algiers and Sudan at a cost of just more than R1.1-million.

The following year, between August 9 and 12, Sisulu travelled to Burundi at a cost of R508488.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times this week, Sisulu vowed to clear her name and confirmed that she was considering legal action against her cabinet colleague.

"I want that expunged from my records with the necessary apology and the necessary remedy. I will not have it. I've worked very hard for this government and my reputation is not going to be sacrificed on something silly like that," she said.

The two ministers are among only four women in the top 15 of the ANC's election list. The timing of the public release of Sisulu's alleged extravagance along with the letters points to a behind-the-scenes battle for powerful cabinet positions after the May 7 national elections.

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has been drawn into the fray. The Sunday Times is in possession of nine letters about the issue sent between the offices of Sisulu, Mapisa-Nqakula and Motlanthe - as leader of government business - during November and December 2012. They provide rare insight into the tenor of interaction in the current cabinet.

On November 9 2012, Sisulu wrote to Mapisa-Nqakula: "The answer you gave was wrong and I am of the opinion that this was deliberate." She asked Mapisa-Nqakula to withdraw the answer.

On the same day, Sisulu wrote to Motlanthe to insist Mapisa-Nqakula's answer was "NOT TRUE" [sic].

On November 15, Sisulu wrote to Motlanthe: "That the minister [Mapisa-Nqakula] is wrong is clear as daylight and she should know that I have worked with the SANDF and its operations longer than she has had contact with them. I crafted the handbook on VVIP planes."

She stated her belief that there was "a malicious and deliberate attempt to cause damage to my integrity", part of "a deliberate pattern".

"Minister Mapisa-Nqakula is wrong, she knows she is wrong and the only reason she is doing this, I am convinced, is deliberate," concluded Sisulu.

On November 18, Sisulu wrote a long letter to Motlanthe, asking him to act and invoking the Sisulu family name: "I can live with the pain and embarrassment that comes with being a politician, but I will not sacrifice my integrity. My integrity is central to my being, central to how, as a family, we define essential values. This I must guard with my life."

In a separate paragraph, she stated: "I AM DEEPLY AGGRIEVED" [sic].

The ministerial handbook gives the South African National Defence Force the responsibility to transport the defence minister, and authorises chartered aircraft use only when there are time constraints or commercial airline use is not cost-effective, or for health reasons.

The fight between the two started two years ago when Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier asked a routine parliamentary oversight question about the number of chartered Gulfstream jet flights Sisulu undertook.

Mapisa-Nqakula answered with her version of events and stuck to it. At some point, while Mapisa-Nqakula was out of the country and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini was nominally acting as defence minister, Dlamini withdrew the parliamentary answer.

This week, Sisulu said she was "hopping mad" about the matter and would take any steps possible to get Mapisa-Nqakula to apologise to her.

Sisulu said Mapisa-Nqakula had allowed herself to be caught up in a campaign to smear her name following her initiative to tackle corruption in the public service.

She said she had reported Mapisa-Nqakula to the public protector and parliamentary ethics committee.

The public protector's office yesterday confirmed that it was investigating Sisulu's complaint against Mapisa-Nqakula.

She has taken legal advice and will, if necessary, use the courts to clear her name. "My integrity is everything I have ... I will not sacrifice it for everybody. I do everything with integrity and I am going to protect it with all I have.

"I mean, how do I go to anybody now and say please come and vote for the ANC? This is an organisation that has given so much and they look at me and they see a flight? No, no, no," she said.

"I want that expunged from my records with the necessary apology and the necessary remedy. "

Sisulu took another swipe at Mapisa-Nqakula, pointing out that she had flown with her to an African Union summit in Angola in 2012, both enjoying the luxuries of the aircraft.

"Interestingly, on about six or seven of these flights was my successor. So she would have known that we did not fly to Angola six times, but we flew to Angola once.

"Because what happened is that the plane left Waterkloof with her in the plane to come here [Cape Town] because I was in a portfolio committee, to pick me up to go to Angola for an AU summit meeting.

"In fact, what would be interesting would be to get a breakdown of who was in the flight with the minister. Very rarely are these flights just the minister.

"So when you talk about the R10-million, you're ... not counting the totality of the office and the people who use that flight."

Mapisa-Nqakula denies being part of any campaign to tarnish Sisulu's name.

"The minister of defence would like to state categorically that at no time, in the present or the past, has she ever had any reason to conduct a smear campaign against Minister Sisulu.

"Even with the current misunderstanding, such a possibility remains so remote, given their personal relationship and the long bonds formed during years of struggle and comradeship. These are relationships she values deeply," said her spokeswoman, Joy Peter.

Mapisa-Nqakula said she would not respond to Sisulu's threats because she was dealing with the matter through Motlanthe's office.

"The minister will continue to deal with the matter through the office of the leader of government business, and this is her preferred channel to address issues of this nature. As a result, the minister cannot respond to any suggestion for a possible legal action against her," said Peter.

mokonet@sundaytimes.co.za

joubertj@sundaytimes.co.za

An expensive way to travel

Lindiwe Sisulu, when she was minister of defence, took 15 return trips on a private jet between Johannesburg and Pretoria and Cape Town, at a total cost of R3216988 and an average of R214466 per return flight.

The flights started at Lanseria or Waterkloof Air Force Base, went via OR Tambo International Airport and landed at Ysterplaat Air Force Base, before returning to OR Tambo, then Lanseria or Waterkloof. Sisulu was not on every leg of the flights.

By way of comparison, had the minister booked a return flight on a commercial airline, the average costs (based on Kulula/British Airways quotes) would have been:

• Booking 24 hours before, to leave and return the next day: R5250.
• Booking one week before: R4250.
• Booking a month before: R3000.
• Using an average of three people per flight, the cost savings would have been:
• 24 hours, average commercial flight: R15750; average private jet: R214466. Average saving per trip: R198716.
• One week, average commercial flight: R12750; average private jet: R214466. Average saving per trip: R201716.
• One month, average commercial flight: R9000; average private jet: R214466. Average saving per trip: R205466.
• This is an average saving of about R200000 a flight.

Using that average, if the minister had flown on a commercial airline instead of a private jet, the 15 flights she took between Gauteng and the Western Cape would have cost roughly R3-million less than on a private jet.

The commercial airlines total would have been R217000. The cost using a private jet was R3.2-million.

Kulula and British Airways had at least 10 options available for 24-hour bookings. Booking further ahead increased the options to between 20 and 30 flights.

The legs between OR Tambo and Lanseria airports, so-called ferry flights, cost about R7000 a trip. Those 15 ferry flights cost about R105000, or half the minister's total cost had she used a commercial airline. - Gareth van Onselen

- Timeslive

Still no answer on Sisulu’s flights

Cape Town -

Military discipline relies on following orders and on meticulous record-keeping.

But that seems to have unravelled when it comes to the number of charter flights undertaken by former defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

Her successor, Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, had to admit on Tuesday that she still could not provide a parliamentary answer to DA MP David Maynier, more than a year after the question was asked.

“I have consistently received contradicting information from the department (of defence) in respect of this parliamentary question and have resultantly not been able to assertively provide the requisite reply in this regard,” Mapisa-Nqakula said in response to a parliamentary question by Maynier’s DA colleague Shahid Esau.

Last week, Maynier unsuccessfully tried to read out in the National Assembly a list of Gulfstream jet flights taken by Sisulu during her stint at the helm of the defence force, as he had vowed to do earlier in the year.

He was quickly cut short by a parliamentary point of order from Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor, who interjected just as Maynier had finished reading that “on a Friday, a Gulfstream jet departs from Lanseria International Airport and lands at Air Force Base Ysterplaat to collect the minister in Cape Town. The flight was empty. The flight cost plus minus R100 000… ”

For Mapisa-Nqakula it is the second time she has been embarrassed on the same issue.

Her response last year that her predecessor took 203 flights, at an estimated R200 000 each, was withdrawn from the parliamentary record after Sisulu rejected the costs and maintained she had taken only 35 flights - with her office on several subsequent occasions saying there was nothing to add on this matter.

However, Maynier has promised to continue trying to get to the bottom of what he believed was R40 million spent on luxury charter flights.

“The fact is Lindiwe Sisulu treated the air force like her personal airborne taxi service. She zoomed up and down the country like a yo-yo, wasting millions of rands. So I’m not surprised the air force lost count of number of flights she undertook,” Maynier told the Cape Argus.

“Thankfully, her wings have been clipped. The poor minister must be desperately missing her favourite privately owned ultra-luxury Gulfstream executive jet. The transition back to ‘chicken or beef’ on South African Airways must have been traumatic.” - Cape Argus

Nkandla flights ‘strain SAAF budget’

EXPENSIVE daily helicopter flights between President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence and the King Shaka International Airport are further straining the shrinking budgets of the South African Air Force (SAAF), says the South African National Defence Union (Sandu).

An insufficient budget has led to half the Gripen fighter fleet being placed in storage, and the Agusta A109 light utility helicopter fleet has been grounded. Flying hours per pilot have been cut by as much as two-thirds and numerous maintenance contracts have been placed on hold.

Sandu national secretary Pikkie Greeff said while many air force units were being starved of resources for operations and training, money was being spent to transport Mr Zuma from the airport to Nkandla.

In KwaZulu-Natal, two helicopter squadrons on the coast have received no funding this year for sea and mountain rescue operations, but have funding for VIP flights, according to a report. Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday that 15 Squadron, based in Durban, was allowed a small number of flight hours for training, but 300 hours for VIP flights.

Mr Zuma uses his presidential jet to fly to King Shaka International Airport in Durban and two Oryx helicopters to fly 100km from there to Nkandla.

Beeld says these helicopter flights are estimated to cost about R36,000 each.

The media-shy air force chief, Lt-Gen Fabian Msimang, admitted to his staff at the weekend that the air force was experiencing difficulties but urged them to remain in the service. His address was leaked to DefenceWeb, apparently by a staff member.

The air force said on Tuesday Lt-Gen Msimang was speaking informally to officers and staff of 80 Air Navigation School (80 ANS) at Ysterplaat base, but was not aware any media representatives were present. He has avoided the media after reports were published about budget deficiencies leading to reduced flying hours for young pilots, lack of serviceable aircraft, and the poor morale of air crew.

Mr Greeff said Lt-Gen Msimang should realise he is a military leader, not a politician, and should refrain from going around units promising the SAAF will get better. "He is not in charge of the budget, the minister (Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula) and the government through the Treasury are responsible for insufficient funding within the SAAF."

The poor serviceability of the SAAF fleet was blamed on the cancellation of the Denel Aero Manpower Group (AMG) servicing contract from April 1. As a result, the SAAF’s air servicing units lost 389 skilled technicians. Only 139 specialists were retained in terms of a negotiated skills supply agreement and they were deployed to units across South Africa.

DefenceWeb also reported that Lt-Gen Msimang said the cancellation of the Denel-AMG contract was not an air force decision. It was evergreen and had been running for many years. "The auditor-general had an opinion that we had to end it because it was not conforming to the Public Finance Management Act, so we had to do something."

He also said that the air force, because of planning in silos, did not maximise people’s potential, to use them effectively. As a result, it was "overstocked with senior personnel". He was restructuring the air force "because the way it is configured right now is not working optimally".

- BDLive

Zuma’s VVIP jet queried

The Department of Defence’s plans to spend millions on a jet for the country’s “No 1” have met with little enthusiasm, but experts say that spending on planes with military airlift capacity is a different matter and concur with the defence minister that many of the country’s military’s planes are “antiques”.

Weekend Argus reported yesterday that Defence Minister Nosiviwe-Mapisa Nqakula had announced her department would buy a new VVIP (very very important person) jet, and focus on building strategic airlift capacity, which was sorely lacking. While the budget for the VVIP jet has not been announced, speculation is that it will come from the R4.6 billion in the department’s “secret” account.

Last year, it scrapped plans to buy a new VVIP jet at a price tag of R2bn.

On Friday, Mapisa-Nqakula said buying new aircraft was a matter of urgency since her department was spending millions on chartering flights for VIPs and for airlifting because South Africa had unsuitable or outdated planes.

Yesterday, defence analyst Helmoed Heitman agreed, describing some of the government’s planes as “antiques”. He said because there were no planes with long range and heavy airlift capacity, military equipment had to be transported in pieces and re-assembled on the other side, and troops flew in chartered planes.

The defence force’s VIP squadron 21 operates four planes: the presidential jet, bought in 2002; a Falcon 900 in 1991; and two Falcon 50s in 1982 and 1985, refurbished in 2005.

South Africa’s Hercules carriers date back to 1962 and 1963.

Heitman said South Africa had erred in buying the R600 million Boeing Business Jet, now named Inkwazi, as the presidential jet in 2002, as it was too small and its range was too short.

DA spokesman on defence David Maynier disagreed: “The defence operating budget has been cut to the bone and you would think scarce resources would be directed to the needs of the defence force, rather than (those) of the president.”

South African National Defence Union spokesman Pikkie Greeff also said spending should focus on “military capacity more than VVIP jets. We need to spend more on logistics and troop transport, unless the president will allow the defence force to use his VVIP jet the next time we need to extract soldiers from an operation”.

Greeff said that while he welcomed the minister’s “candid admissions” about the lack of airlift capacity, the issue had only really became problematic after the recent troubles experienced in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Heitman said troops deployed to the CAR had travelled there on chartered flights, and chartered flights had been used to extract some of them.

“Our air transport capacity is way below what we need to do the required work,” he said.

Heitman cited as an example the South African Search and Rescue Organisation, which effects “maritime and aeronautical searches” from half way between South America and South Africa, to half way between South Africa and Australia, and the South Pole. The SANDF is one of the government departments involved, but cannot “begin to cover” the area with its planes.

- IOL

SA to splash out on new jet for Zuma

Cape Town - The defence force is back in the market for
purchasing presidential jets as well as planes that will give
the military its own airlift capacity.
Previous plans to buy a R2 billion presidential jet and
Airbuses were scuppered amid widespread controversy and
public outrage.
But now the Defence Ministry is determined to buy the
planes as a matter of urgency.

The department has been allocated money by the Treasury and intends splashing out on the new aircraft as soon
as possible, according to Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Addressing a breakfast at the Cape Town Press Club at the Castle of Good Hope yesterday, Mapisa-Nqakula said
the Department of Defence was spending millions of rand each week chartering aircraft, because many of its planes
were so old they belonged in museums.

The minister said the department was looking to buy VVIP jets as well as strategic airlifting capability planes as
soon as possible.
“We’re running out of time.”
VVIP refers to “very, very important people” and includes the president, the deputy president, former presidents and
the minister and deputy ministers of defence.

“Every week without fail, we pay millions of rand chartering aircraft for strategic airlift capability, which far exceeds
the money we would have spent by purchasing,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
“If you look at some of our aircraft, they’re 60 to 62 years old and should be museum pieces and we use them to
ferry our people around,” she continued. “I won’t elaborate on some of the experiences I’ve had and what I’ve seen
happening, but this process (to buy aircraft) must begin.”

In 2009, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe had to make an emergency landing in the DRC after problems with
his jet. In 2011, an aircraft in which Motlanthe was due to travel encountered problems before take-off from the
Waterkloof Air Force Base. And in December, a SANDF Dakota crashed in the Drakensberg, killing 11 people.
The minister said: “We don’t know what happened there but that plane was over 60 year old and as far as I’m
concerned, no human being should be flying in it.”

She said the Treasury had allocated money for buying the VVIP jets. She would issue directives for the purchase,
after which the chief of the SANDF would have to implement it, while complying with the Public Finance
Management Act.

Mapisa-Nqakula was part of a delegation led by President Jacob Zuma which has just returned from Russia.
Following the visit, Russian President Vladimir Putin said South Africa was in talks with Russia about buying
passenger jets.

Putin had revealed that these were MS-21 jets. However, they are reportedly going into production only in 2017,
and, except for a planned top-end version that is nowhere near production, all the models are mid-range – 5
000km or less – which would make them less than suitable for South Africa’s purposes.

In 2005, South Africa committed to buying eight Airbus A400M planes, intended to enhance the defence force’s
airlift capacity and reduce its heavy reliance on ageing chartered Russian cargo planes to transport troops and
equipment. The deal was cancelled in 2009 after concerns about its affordability.
In December 2010, in the wake of a series of embarrassments around VIP jet charters, the cabinet approved the
medium-term acquisition of four VVIP aircraft.

Last year, shortly after she became defence minister, Mapisa-Nqakula cancelled plans to purchase a “super-bling”
presidential jet, a R2 billion Boeing 777-200LR. A deposit had been paid for the aircraft, but after seeking legal
opinion, it was determined that the offer to purchase the jet had lapsed.

At the time she said she was looking into a lease contract to act as a stop-gap while they went through a tender
process to procure the VVIP jets. The ministry’s about-turn followed a refusal by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan
to condone a deviation from normal procurement processes.
Saturday Star

A slap on the wrist for wasting R1.6m

President Jacob Zuma has slapped Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson on the wrist for spending R1.6-million of public funds on lengthy stays at lavish hotels.

Zuma yesterday wrote to National Assembly speaker Max Sisulu informing him that he had reprimanded Joemat-Pettersson for violating the executive ethics code.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela last year found Joemat-Pettersson guilty of breaching the code by spending more than R420000 at a Johannesburg guesthouse during the 2010 Soccer World Cup and another R151000 of taxpayers' money to fly her children from a holiday in Sweden, among other transgressions.

Zuma's reprimand of Joemat-Pettersson follows a recommendation by Madonsela that he take action against her.

"I had an opportunity to engage with Minister Joemat-Pettersson on the findings of the public protector. After careful consideration of the public protector's findings on the matter, as well as Minister Joemat-Pettersson's submission on the matter, I have reprimanded [her] for her violation of the executive ethics code," said Zuma in his letter to Sisulu.

DA MP Annette Steyn said it was "terrible" that Zuma had merely reprimanded the minister.

She said it was now up to parliament's joint ethics committee to ensure she fully repaid the money.

"It's terrible that she's just being reprimanded . According to the public protector, the minister lied about her use of public funds. I will ask that the letter be discussed by the ethics committee," Steyn said.

But Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj insisted Zuma had dealt "sufficiently" with the matter.

"The president has acted to the recommendations filed by the public protector. We believe that is sufficient," said Maharaj.

In 2011, Zuma expelled then Cooperative Governance minister Sicelo Shiceka when a similar inquiry by the public protector concluded that he had abused public money by visiting a girlfriend serving time in a Switzerland prison.

Madonsela found that Joemat-Pettersson acted against the provisions of the ministerial handbook by spending public funds on flight tickets for her children.

The minister travelled to Sweden in December 2009 on official business but combined the trip with a family holiday.

Her spokesman, Palesa Mokomele, said the minister had started repaying the R151000 she owed but could not say how much had been paid back so far.

"She's made arrangements to pay that money ... I can't divulge how she's repaying it or whether it's being paid in full but the money is being paid ... The minister has made a commitment to comply with all the recommendations of that report," Mokomele said.

Joemat-Pettersson, who earns R2 -million a year, disclosed in the register of MPs' interests in 2011 that she received R200000 a month in child maintenance from the estate of her late husband.

She also has unlimited travel benefits from the same trust and owns a summer house and a flat in Stockholm, Sweden.

- Timeslive

Motlanthe defends his island holiday

Parliament, Cape Town - Paying with public money for transport and security on his Christmas break in the Seychelles was in line with government policy, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said on Wednesday.

Responding to a question in the National Assembly, he confirmed he had not performed any official duties between December 23 and January 4, and had in fact been on vacation at the Indian Ocean archipelago at the time.

The question was posed by Democratic Alliance MP David Maynier, who last month said it was “simply wrong for Deputy President Motlanthe to have used public funds to pay for part of his vacation in the Seychelles, when so many people in our country are living in poverty”.

Maynier said in a statement at the time that a Falcon 900 aircraft, operated by the SA Air Force’s VIP squadron, was used to transport Motlanthe - together with a number of passengers - from Waterkloof airforce base to Mahe Island International Airport on December 23.

Further, a Cessna Caravan aircraft, chartered by South Africa's defence department, was used on the same day to take Motlanthe, and a number of passengers, from Mahe airport to Desroches Island (Seychelles).

“Deputy President Motlanthe, together with a number of passengers, stayed at Desroches Island Resort, which is advertised as one of 'Forbes Top Ten Remote Destinations in the World'.”

The same aircraft had then been used, on January 4, to return Motlanthe to South Africa.

While it was known that the cost of chartering the Cessna Caravan was R83 000, the cost of operating the Falcon 900 was unknown.

“However, the total cost of operating the Falcon 900 and chartering the Cessna Caravan could have been as much as R1 million,” Maynier said.

Motlanthe said he wished to “relieve” Maynier of his anxiety regarding the holiday.

In terms of government policy, transport for the deputy president, whether for official or private purposes, was the responsibility of the state.

“The state also has a duty to provide security for the deputy president at all times, whether he is engaged in official duties, or while he is on leave.”

This policy had been re-affirmed by Cabinet on March 20, 2007.

The SA Police Service was responsible for security involving ground transport, while the SA National Defence Force was responsible for air transport.

“The deputy president has no role whatsoever in the planning and carrying out of operations concerning his own transport and security.

“These matters, including deployment of personnel and equipment, as well as related costs, are managed by the competent state organs,” Motlanthe said. - Sapa

‘Joemat-­Pettersson flew back to help with Zuma’s wedding’

Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat­ Pettersson claims she flew back to South Africa urgently – at a R400,000 cost to the taxpayer – to help out with President Jacob Zuma’s wedding.

This is revealed in Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s final report into ­Joemat-Pettersson’s controversial business class flight with her two children and their au pair from Sweden to South Africa on January 1 2010.

Titled Costly Moves, Madonsela’s ­report, which was released this week, ­reveals Joemat-Pettersson and her former chief of staff, Bafedile Bopape, initially would not tell investigators why she had to return from Sweden urgently at the end of 2009.

She was there on business with her children and planned a holiday afterwards, when she was called back.

Flights for herself and two officials cost R250 000. 

The flights for her children and their au pair cost R151 000.

All Joemat-Pettersson initially said was that she had been urgently ­summoned home by “an authorised ­official in the office of the presidency”.

During her interview with ­Madonsela’s office, Joemat-Pettersson admitted meeting Zuma on January 2 – the day after her return – at the Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg.

Madonsela said no evidence of any emergency or crisis that warranted the minister’s early return was obtained or presented during the investigation. 

But Madonsela noted that investigators in her office started asking more questions after they realised January 2 was a Saturday and Zuma married ­Tobeka Madiba at his Nkandla home just two days later.

They questioned Joemat-Pettersson again and she said the “circumstances” now warranted a more detailed response than her original, “without wishing to breach the relationship of trust with the presidency”.

Then she spilled the beans. She told investigators her early return related mainly to the fact that she was needed to assist dignitaries and VIP guests “with regard to the importation of prescribed goods that they required during their stay in South Africa at the time”.

“I was under pressure to expedite that matter,” she told Madonsela’s team.

Joemat-Pettersson didn’t explicitly say these guests were attending Zuma’s wedding, but Madonsela explains in the report why she and her team believe the wedding was the reason for the minister’s urgent return.

Joemat-Pettersson was asked during questioning why she had not pointed out to the presidency how expensive the emergency flights would be.

She told investigators that speculation about whether Zuma would have agreed to postpone her return to after his wedding if he knew the costs was ­“entirely unfounded”.

“It was not for me to question his order in this regard,” Joemat-Pettersson is quoted in the report as saying.

Joemat-Pettersson this week blamed the more than R151 000 spent on her children and au pair’s flights on Bopape.

The minister told Madonsela she was advised by Bopape that the correct procedure in having the return tickets for her children approved had been followed. 

“I would have purchased new return tickets for all three if I was correctly advised by Bopape that the state was not supposed to pay as per the Ministerial Handbook,” Joemat-Pettersson said.

“My children, their nanny and I have unlimited travel benefits at any time and place to any place worldwide which is paid for from the estate of my late ­husband.”

In the initial report that was leaked to the media, Bopape was ordered to pay the R151 000, but in the final report the burden was passed to the minister. 

Bopape, who is now working in the ­agriculture director-general’s office, ­declined to comment.

Madonsela said on Monday that Zuma should consider reprimanding Joemat-Pettersson for violating the executive ethics code.

Joemat-Pettersson’s spokesperson this week referred City Press to the ­report when asked to comment. 

The presidency did not respond to ­requests for comment.

- City Press

Tina I-Fly-Twice Joemat Pettersson vervloek Madonsela's se ma se

Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson on Tuesday rejected claims that she wasted taxpayers' money, following findings by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

"The perception by the media that the minister was extravagant is rejected with the contempt it deserves," the ministry's spokeswoman Palesa Mokomele said in a statement.

Madonsela on Monday said President Jacob Zuma should consider reprimanding Joemat-Pettersson for violating the executive ethics code.

In her findings she said the department's acting director general should recover about R150,000 the minister incurred for return flights for her two children and their au pair from Sweden to South Africa in January 2010.

The ministry welcomed Madonsela's recommendation of remedial action. Mokomele said the ministry would develop an implementation plan and submit it to the Public Protector within the stipulated time frame.

The minister travelled to Sweden on official business in December 2009. The trip was combined with a family holiday, which started on December 23, at the end of her official trip.

However, Joemat-Pettersson had to cut the holiday short when the presidency recalled her. She returned on January 1, 2010.

Mokomele said the minister had paid for the original tickets and accommodation for her children and their au pair, but did not cover the costs of the changes to the tickets.

She said Joemat-Pettersson would have purchased new return tickets for all three if she had been correctly advised.

The Protector found the minister's former chief of staff, Bafedile Bopape, wrongfully advised her regarding the return flights.

"Bopape provided minister Joemat-Pettersson with incorrect advice in respect of the department’s responsibility to pay for the return air tickets of the minister’s children and au pair when she was recalled from Sweden in January 2010," Madonsela said.

It was also investigated whether Joemat-Pettersson used public funds to pay for expensive accommodation at hotels while she was awaiting the allocation of her official residences in Cape Town and Pretoria.

Joemat-Pettersson stayed at the 28A On Oxford Guest House from June 13 to July 11, 2010, for R420,000, and at the Peermont D'Oreale Grande Hotel at a cost of R289,352.

Joemat-Pettersson had not been allocated an official residence at the time.

"She (Joemat-Pettersson) stayed in a reasonably priced guesthouse in Pretoria for six months, which she vacated due to circumstances beyond her control," Mokomele said.

"The minister spent significant time, money and personal effort to relieve the burden that her lack of accommodation was placing on the state."

Madonsela recommended that Public Works fast-track the refurbishment of Joemat-Pettersson's official residence in Cape Town. She said the minister had been severely affected by the delay in providing accommodation.

The Protector was scathing of Bopape for the way she handled the minister's travel and accommodation expenses.

"In respect of her failure to provide minister Joemat-Pettersson with correct advice pertaining to the provisions of the Ministerial Handbook... which resulted in fruitless and wasteful expenditure for the department," she said.

- timelive

Madonsela finds Tina guilty of violating ethics code

Public protector Thuli Madonsela has found that Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson violated the executive ethics code.

President Jacob Zuma should consider reprimanding Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson for violating the executive ethics code, public protector Thuli Madonsela said on Monday.

Madonsela said the department's acting director general should recover about R150 000 Joemat-Pettersson unlawfully incurred for return flights of her two children and their au pair from Sweden to South Africa in January 2010.

The minister travelled to Sweden in December 2009 on official business, where she held meetings on matters relevant to her portfolio.

The trip was combined with a family holiday, which started at the end of the official trip on December 23. Joemat-Pettersson, however, had to cut the holiday short when she was recalled by the presidency and returned on January 1 2010.

"The return trips of the minister's children and au pair were paid for by the state in violation of the provisions of paragraph 3.4 of chapter 6 of the Ministerial Handbook, in the amount of R151 878," Madonsela found in her report.

The public protector also investigated whether the minister used public funds in occupying expensive accommodation at hotels while she was awaiting the allocation of her official residences in Cape Town and Pretoria. Expenses Joemat-Pettersson incurred include, among others, a month's stay at the Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Cape Town during June and July 2009 at a cost of R134 735, a five-week stay at the Peermont D'Oreal Grande Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg between September 16 and October 21 2009 at a total cost of R289 352 and a month spent at the Pure Toys One CC in Johannesburg during the 2010 Fifa World Cup at a cost of R420 000.

Last year, President Jacob Zuma was forced to fire Sicelo Shiceka, the late minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, after Madonsela found him to have acted unlawfully, of being dishonest with public money and in contravention of the Cabinet's executive ethics code as well as the Constitution. 

– Sapa