Gigaba: South Africans must decide on VVIP terminals
Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba wants citizens to decide whether VVIP terminals are required at the country’s airports.
Gigaba was grilled by MPs on the Fireblade Aviation saga.
He admitted that government policies are not up to scratch when it comes to the approval of private terminals at the country’s airports.
Gigaba was in the hot seat as he appeared before the home affairs portfolio committee on Tuesday evening.
He had to explain the decision to grant the Oppenheimer family permission to operate a private terminal at OR Tambo International Airport.
ALSO READ: Malema mocks Gigaba's sex tape
“I think that the people of South Africa have an interest in expressing their opinions whether there should be VVIP terminals, and if so – in what form of shape they should take,” Gigaba said.
He confessed that “proper lessons have been learnt” following the damning proclamations against him.
Last week, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane agreed with a high court judgment that Gigaba had lied under oath about approving the facility.
He told MPs that many proposals have been received for VVIP terminals and therefore he believed a public discussion is required.
ALSO READ: Growing calls for Ramaphosa to sack Gigaba
“Given the public interest in this issue we may have opportunity to consult the public on VVIP terminals.”
He vowed that Cabinet will be served with a report of sorts on “the implications (that) have arisen as a result of this decision so that we get guidance”.