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A South African Air Force plane was used to fly the ANC members to Zimbabwe. (Photo: Twitter / @takumandura)
The cash-strapped ANC has pledged to reimburse the government for costs incurred when its delegation flew on a South African Air Force plane to Zimbabwe. This, after questions were asked about the legality of using the plane for the trip.
Almost a week after returning from a meeting with the ruling Zanu-PF in Harare, Zimbabwe, the ANC has issued a statement to say it considers the meeting “constructive”, despite the Zanu-PF leaders on Friday. reprimand the ANC delegation for its focus.
The party also apologized for the “unusual way” in which its delegation flew to Zimbabwe last week on Tuesday, flying alongside Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who said she had an official meeting with her counterpart in Harare.
In its statement on Tuesday, September 15, the ANC said “[we] we will profusely humble ourselves where we went wrong during the shutdown and reimburse the government for costs incurred on behalf of our delegation.
“Our delegation is in quarantine in accordance with our closure regulations.”
On the weekend, the sunday time reported that the party’s general secretary, Ace Magashule, insisted to the newspaper that he did not believe that the delegation had abused state resources. He also reported that he could confirm that at least two members of the delegation, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu and ANC official and former Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, did not undergo the stipulated 10-day period of self-isolation required by lockdown regulations after international travel. . The delegation consisted of at least eight members, and the party delegation was headed by Magashule.
It is unclear how much the ANC will reimburse. Defense spokesman Siphiwe Dlamini said: “I do not know how much the flight cost and I am not aware of any discussion about payment or reimbursement from the ANC. [the money] except what people have suggested or talked about in the media and public space “.
DA deputy and party spokesman in defense, Kobus Marais, estimates that the flight could have cost between R750,000 and R1 million.
“The admission and offer of the ANC [to repay the money] it is proof that he was right and that they were dishonest and unethical to try to deny it, ”said Marais.
He said reports that Mapisa-Nqakula only had a 30-minute meeting with his counterpart meant the flight was unnecessary. “She could have held the meeting on a virtual platform,” he said, or she could have used a smaller plane.
It is unclear where the ANC will get the money to pay for the flight costs, as earlier this month there were reports that the party had trouble paying its August salary bill on time.
The ANC said in its statement on Tuesday that the meeting with Zanu-PF was a success and that the delegation had briefed national ANC officials on its “cordial and successful” discussions with Zanu-PF, which allegedly lasted for more. six hours. last Wednesday. DM
