The South African Police Service has again defended its purchase of a R150-million private jet which it bought for, what it terms, 'operational purposes'.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Tuesday responded to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance, acknowledging the plane was used to ferry cabinet ministers around the country.

It said this was during the election period when government officials were ensuring the polls were peaceful.

"It is an operational plane. When a special task force and other specialised members of the SAPS need to attend to urgent situations, in terms of intervention, they will utilise it," said Nonkululeko Mbatha of the SAPS.

The DA's Diane Kohler-Barnard believes Mthethwa could have put the money to better use.

"On top of his 'pimp-my-ride' vehicles and staying at the five star hotels, we now have the news that he is flying around in a private jet — even the Queen of England uses British Airways," she said.

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