“Aircraft to be used for commercial flights” says Premier’s office

The subject of possible procurement of an aircraft for the provincial government came up in the October 2016 meeting of the Provincial Executive Council when various challenges around the existing flight route between Mahikeng and O.R. Tambo were being discussed.

This route is presently being serviced by SA Express airline, which is heavily subsidised by the Provincial Government.

In trying to address the identified challenges the Provincial EXCO asked itself many questions, one of which was whether the present travel arrangements were effectively servicing the North West Government.

That is when the EXCO agreed to have a cost benefit analysis done in respect of what it would cost the Provincial Government to have its aircraft versus continuing to subsidise SA Express. EXCO therefore tasked the Departmnent of Community Safety and Transport Management to do this exercise through the Provincial Transport Agency, the North West Transport Investment.

The said cost benefit analysis therefore is not the same as “procuring or buying a state aircraft”. There is no EXCO decision to purchase an aircraft.

As the Provincial Government we have noted how the genuine cause for cost benefit analysis  has been colour coded with insinuations by the so called government insiders which distort the whole matter completely  and portray the Premier as a somewhat lavish leader who wants an aircraft for personal gratification.

The Government of Bokone Bophirima is led by a Premier who is leading by example in saving costs and he has already done a lot to show that he means business. For example, Premier Mahumapelo lives in his own private house instead of a state house to reduce the costs that the provincial government would be incurring if he lived in a state house.

The Premier also used his own money to build a guard house at his private property despite the state’s offer to do so. It’s again Premier Mahumapelo who led his Exco members to agreeing to purchase official vehicles that cost no more than R600 000, lower than what’s prescribed in the Ministerial Handbook. He himself is using cars that were used by two of  his predecessors . These cars have already gone beyond the  120 000km.

He has ordered his office to stop buying groceries and he has further ensured that 70 per cent of government spending is channelled to villages, townships and small dorpies, which were historically neglected.

These are just some of the examples to show the type of leadership we currently have in Bokone Bophirima. We cannot now, after doing so much to give priority to spending money on providing services, want to make decisions that will reverse these gains.

It is regrettable that the decision to do a cost benefit analysis is being deliberately distorted. All the Province wants is to get the best deal for going forward with regard to the Mahikeng Airport route.

Should the outcome of the cost benefit analysis reveal that it will be cheaper to buy own aircraft, the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management will through the North West Transport Investment purchase such and it will be for commercial use and not for the exclusive use of the Premier or his Exco.

If an impression has been created that the Provincial Government would like to purchase the aircraft for the exclusive use by the Premier or his Exco, It is highly regrettable