Jacob
Zuma is in talks to buy a £165m presidential jet, it was reported, just
days after the South African president warned of growing frustration
among the country's poorest over the government's failure to improve
their lives.
The
customised Boeing 777 plane seats 300 people and would cost $150m to
buy and an additional $80m to be adapted to Mr Zuma's specifications.
The
Department of Defence, which oversees VIP transport, is reportedly
considering spending an additional $28m on a second private plane for
Kgalema Motlanthe, the deputy president.
Defence
Secretary Sam Makhudu Guluybe was on Friday visiting the United States
to finalise the sale with Boeing, according to the Johannesburg Star
newspaper.
The
newspaper said it had documents which showed the defence department had
negotiated a significant reduction on the jet's original price of $305m
after a deal between Boeing and another buyer fell through.
The
current presidential jet, known as Inkwazi which means "fish eagle" in
Mr Zuma's mother tongue Zulu, was out of service for much of last year
for upgrades and maintenance.
