Mr S J F Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:
(1) Whether, with reference to the approximately 250 members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) who were flown to the Republic of Cuba for training at the end of August 2021, any training was available in other countries, especially where the use of English is available on the training courses; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
(2) whether the specified countries were considered; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) what were the reasons that it was resolved to send pilot trainees to Cuba in view of the fact that our fleet of Gripen aircraft is of Swedish origin and the Hawk aircraft is of British origin;
(4) whether any alternatives for training other than the Cuban training opportunities were made available to the SANDF members; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(5) (a) what was the total cost of the Cuban training in each year since it started, (b) what is the full duration of training for each group, division and/or formation, (c) what was the total cost of chartering the SA Airways aircraft to fly the return flights to Cuba and (d) from which budget item are the flight costs being funded?