Ramaphosa gives more clarity on Defence Force jet flight to Zimbabwe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied reports that the necessary authorisation was not given to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to travel to Zimbabwe last month.
The Presidency has provided more clarity following renewed allegations surrounding the controversial trip during which an ANC delegation was allowed on the government jet and joined the minister to and from Harare.
Presidency spokesperson, Tyrone Seale, says Ramaphosa received a written request from Mapisa-Nqakula to travel on 7 September.
“The Minister requested permission to travel to Zimbabwe from 8 to 10 September 2020 to conduct a bilateral meeting with her Zimbabwean counterpart, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans, Ms Oppah Chamu Muchinguri-Kashiri,” says Seale.
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“As the President was not in Gauteng at the time the Minister submitted her request, he gave verbal approval of the travel on 8 September 2020 and signed the relevant documentation upon his return to Gauteng.
“On 10 September, the Presidency gave the Minister written confirmation that the President had approved her travel.”
Seale adds that the written confirmation provided by the Presidency forms part of the Minister’s report to the President on the flight to Zimbabwe, which has since been published by the office.
