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The Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, should conduct a full investigation into the South African Flight Training Academy owned by self-styled “Commander of the Presidential Jet” Nlanhla Dube and funded by the National Skills Fund.

The National Skills Fund’s aim to train 100 previously disadvantaged pilots under the Vukani Aviation Project is commendable. Creating opportunities for previously disadvantaged pilots is exactly what the National Skills Fund should be doing.

However, the South African Flight Training Academy, owned by Nhlanhla Dube and funded by the National Skills Fund, appears to be a fly-by-night operation because, reportedly:

• the average training cost of  R1 267 303 per pilot appears to be excessive compared to similar programmes; and
• the South African Civil Aviation Authority conducted an audit and found operations at the flight school are unacceptable.

To date, the National Skills Fund has pumped at least R66 643 975.97 into the South African Flight Training Academy under the Vukani Aviation Project.

I will, therefore, write to the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande, requesting him to conduct a full investigation, including a performance audit and a forensic audit, into the South African Flight Training Academy.

We have to ensure disadvantaged pilots, trained under the Vukani Aviation Project, and funded by the National Skills Fund, receive the best training available in South Africa.

Issued by DA