The Department of Defence on Thursday could not confirm or deny a report last week that President Jacob Zuma would travel to France using two jets‚ one acting as a back-up.Defenceweb reported last week that Zuma and his entourage would travel in a leased business jet that was due to arrive at Waterkloof Airforce Base "within days".The report claims that the presidential jet, Inkwazi, will "shadow" the leased jet in case it develops problems.Department spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said defenceweb did not contact him to ask about this."We are not aware of this. The fact that defenceweb did not contact me is the problem. You cannot come to me and ask to verify the story‚" Dlamini said.The department has in the past announced that it is not normal protocol for it to disclose the operational planning relating to the movement of the country’s political principals undertaken through the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said the South African Air ...
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