Gupta Wedding: Blue lights brigade

**Citizen X** · 01-May-13, 07:14 AM

National key point?
Oh really? Helen Zille, a Premier was denied access to Inkandla, yet the family and friends of Gupta are allowed to land at a national Key point which is a military airbase!
I reiterate that such courtesies are extended to Ministers and dignitaries etc. It should never be extended to family of a South African citizen and such family is non-nationals.
This, in my opinion, was a threat to our National Security as non-nationals of another country who are civilians, don’t hold South African citizenship and are only the family and friends of Gupta get to be treated as visiting Ministers and are allowed to use a National Key point

**Blurock** · 01-May-13, 09:52 AM

The military denied that they gave permission for the landing. So how could an aircraft that had no military clearance land at our primary air force base? Who was the air controller in charge and why did he/she give permission to land? Who was in command of the base and was there a dereliction of duties? Why were our jets not scrambled to protect the key point? Can any foreign power now fly in to Waterkloof and land at will?

Concerning the guests; did they go through customs and did the authorities check for contraband and "illegal imports". Did they declare their gifts and is there any import tax or duties payable on those items so imported?

It is clear that more than one rule or law had been broken here. Who is accountable, or was this an instruction from Zuma himself and nobody had the balls to tell him that there are procedures to follow. Will anyone take responsibility? Not likely...

My heart goes out to the minister of defence and the chief of the air force. In this world there are people that make things happen; those that watch things happen and those who have no clue of what's happening.

**Justloadit** · 01-May-13, 10:58 AM

The fact that the defense force did not give permission to land, does not detract that they were instructed to allow the landings.
There is a difference, I think that the reply to the media was a half sentence, the half which said they did not give the permission. The president has the final word here, and will trump any so called written laws/requirements..

**IanF** · 01-May-13, 12:34 PM

What is sad to me about this whole saga is that the government/ANC will never release the whole story. They don't seem to care.
It is sad that the ANC is dragging us into being just another African basket case.

**Citizen X** · 01-May-13, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by IanF

What is sad to me about this whole saga is that the government/ANC will never release the whole story. They don't seem to care.

South Africa is watching!!!

The more I think about this, the more angry I become as an ordinary South African!

1. Even if there were Ministers from India on that plane, they were not here on official business i.e. diplomatic relations or discussions between South Africa and India, these Ministers were here to attend a private wedding of friends. These friends i.e. those who actually got married and their parents and uncles are ordinary South Africans like you and I; SA can’t roll out the red carpet and blue light brigade for ministers coming to attend a private function of a South African citizen! Who is this South African citizen that she needs such special treatment so as to infringe upon my and your safety and security by using a National Key point , a military airbase to accommodate her friends and family!

2. Not everyone on that plane were ministers, they were non- nationals being treated as if they were visiting presidents from another country!

3. All things been equal is the Government going to allow them to fly back from Waterkloof in the same way that they arrived? I’m sincerely hoping not! They can stand in the queue and go through customs like all other people!

**Chrisjan B** · 01-May-13, 02:47 PM

The blue light brigade can escort the "guests" to OR Thambo then and see they safely got onboard....

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**Blurock** · 01-May-13, 10:15 PM

So if Lesotho gets the silly idea to attack us, all they have to do is fly their troops to Waterkloof? It is close enough to the Union Buildings...

**Dave A** · 02-May-13, 08:06 AM

One of the problems we seem to face is a difference of opinion over what a "generally corrupt relationship" might be.
Or whether having a generally corrupt relationship is even a problem.

I see that despite all the planning that must have gone into this, some things were missed - SARS wants to know why there weren't any customs officials present.
Just an accidental oversight, I'm sure

**Blurock** · 02-May-13, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by Dave A

One of the problems we seem to face is a difference of opinion over what a "generally corrupt relationship" might be.
Or whether having a generally corrupt relationship is even a problem.

I see that despite all the planning that must have gone into this, some things were missed - SARS wants to know why there weren't any customs officials present.
Just an accidental oversight, I'm sure

The reality that the current government is totally incompetent and not fit to run the country. Maybe its just the management or lack thereof, but I see no better candidates within their ranks.

The nScandla Republic is now moving from one scandal to the next; the arms deal, Marikana, Nkandla, Escom, the schools, toll gates, wide spread corruption, Petro SA, Waterkloof....

**Didditmiself** · 02-May-13, 08:56 PM

Vanash, I called our SANDF a 'ragtag army' in a post a couple of months ago when news of the CAF deaths broke and others on the forum asked me what evidence do I have to support this? The fact that is if this had happened in another country (USA for example), the pilot of the aircraft would've been asked to identify themselves and if no suitable response was forthcoming, they would've probably been shot down since they were approaching a 'national keypoint'. We have a ragtag airforce too, it seems.....