Zuma to get new jet by April

Johannesburg - 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.