Dogfight looms over SAAF fuel

The air force and the Nama Khoi municipality in Springbok are about to come to blows about aviation fuel.

On Friday, on Oryx helicopter from Cape Town was refused fuel - because the air force apparently owes the municipality R97 000 for fuel. Apparently, when a Springbok airport official was given the standard requisition form, he tore it up, claiming it wasn't worth anything.

According to the air force, the municipality refuses to send them invoices so that they can settle the fuel bill. The force's legal department is preparing a letter to the mayor of Springbok to clear the air, so to speak. However, Johan Nortjé of Nama Khoi muncipality said on Friday the air force had last paid its bill six months ago.

'Have repeatedly sent accounts'

"We pay cash for our fuel, and the air force gets its on account. Our airport is small and we do not have the budget to give indiscriminate
credit," he said.

"We have repeatedly sent accounts to the air force. In the past, there was never a problem."

He said airport staff had been given instructions at the beginning of February not to supply the air force with fuel. However, an exception had been made and helicopters had been refuelled, he said.

"We can't discriminate against the personnel because the air force isn't paying its bills," he said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Marius Bosch of the air force said they had not been invoiced.

"We want to pay, but can't as we are getting no co-operation from the municipality."

He said the air force's legal department was dealing with the issue.

News24