There was very little wrong with presidential jet Inkwazi when it was announced that President Jacob Zuma was “stranded” in Burundi.

There was, in fact, a South African shadow plane standing ready in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, in case something happened with Inkwazi, but the crew did not have the necessary safety clearances to bring Zuma home.

This plane was allegedly hired by the department of state security at an estimated cost of R650 000.

City Press sister newspaper Rapport has learnt from at least two sources in the air force what happened before its management decided to send another jet to fetch Zuma – despite the flight and technical crews’ assurances that nothing was wrong with Inkwazi.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who had to stand in for Zuma at the ANC Women’s League gala dinner last Friday, had said Zuma was “stranded” in central Africa and his plane could not be moved.

Siphiwe Dlamini, spokesperson for the defence ministry, said that problems with Inkwazi were unacceptable and pressure would be put on its arms procurement agency, Armscor, for a new jet.

City Press reported in November that Armscor was seeking a jet with a range of at least 13 800km. The cheapest new aircraft meeting Armscor’s requirements would be an Airbus A330, costing about R3 billion.

“In view of Inkwazi’s constant problems, we are going to negotiate with Armscor urgently to resolve the issue,” said Dlamini.

He added yesterday that the defence department was sticking to its statement that the plane had been out of order and Zuma was stranded. He rejected Rapport’s version “with contempt” and described it as a “deliberate attempt to embarrass the military’s supreme commander and the defence minister. The department of defence will fulfil its responsibility [for Zuma’s safe transport] without fear or compromise.”

However, Armscor’s marketing head, Lulu Mzili, said last week they were waiting for input from the air force before they could buy a new jet.

Rapport was told by senior air force officers and those at Bujumbura airport that, last Thursday, en route to the capital – where Zuma was part of the peace talks – Inkwazi developed a “minor” fuel leak.

It was repaired by technicians and the plane was ready for the next day’s 11am return flight. The leak was allegedly well within Boeing’s safety regulations.

Inkwazi’s departure was repeatedly postponed by the presidency on Friday while peace talks dragged on and eventually collapsed. At about 3pm, the presidency’s staff in Bujumbura announced that Zuma would fly back the next day at 8.30am.

According to sources, it was decided late that night that the air force’s number two aircraft, a Falcon 900, should fetch Zuma.

Dlamini said it was done for security reasons, but the president’s life was never in danger.

The Falcon 900 was rushed over during the night, despite crew assurances that Inkwazi was fine.

The seven-hour round trip cost the taxpayer an estimated R300 000. International rates put fuel costs at about R38 000 an hour for such a plane. This excludes air clearances and landing fees.

Some presidency staff flew back on Inkwazi, landing at Waterkloof without incident. A “faulty” aircraft may not transport passengers under any circumstances, according to international aviation regulations.

It also emerged that two air force Hercules C-130s, and two rented heavy-cargo planes carrying South African soldiers and special forces and equipment, arrived in Bujumbura before the talks to help secure the city. A bulletproof car was sent for Zuma.

It appears state security hired a Challenger 600 jet early last week as a shadow plane for Zuma.

It is alleged that this jet could not fly the president home because of a dispute in Bujumbura about its lacking the approved air force pilots with safety clearances. State security personnel and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula also flew in the jet.

Last year, at least R10 million was spent on two chartered aircraft to bring Zuma back from Russia. The plane’s condition was also within prescribed safety rules and flew without incident. Inkwazi maintains an average serviceability level of 98%.

– Rapport