Keynote Address at the opening of the George Airport Terminal by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, George

6 September 2007

Programme Director Mr Deon Cloete
Municipal Manager of George Mr Bazil Petrus
Chairperson of Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) Board, Dr Franklin Sonn
Members of the Acsa Board who are present here today
Acsa Managing Director, Ms Monhla Hlahla and her management team
Members of media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be part of an event that bears testimony to the accelerated implementation of Government's Airports development programme, through Acsa. The new improved and expanded terminal we are opening today demonstrates the great strides that Acsa has taken in ensuring that its airport facilities meet world-class standards and are able to accommodate the ever increasing passenger traffic.

The new and refurbished infrastructure improves on Acsa's ability to extend the best service we can to customers travelling through our airports in true African tradition. The town of George we are in today lies in one of our premier tourist attractions in the country, the Garden Route.

Year in and year out this town continues to experience growing influx of tourists lured to the region's mountains, beaches and forests, not to mention the numerous golf courses. Passenger traffic at the airport is forecast to reach the one million mark in 2012 from projections of about 670 000 by end of the current financial year.

It is, therefore, necessary that infrastructural upgrade be implemented to cope with surging passenger traffic and to ensure that travelling through Acsa's airports remains an enjoyable and comfortable experience. The George Airport may be relatively small but it is growing at a fast pace and acts an important component in the Acsa network of airports.

We believe that the new infrastructure will go a long way in assisting this already well-run airport to raise its service standards. It is worth mentioning that the George Airport has won the "Airport of the Year" trophy five times since the South African Airways launched the award in 1987.

What does all this mean for George itself?

Distinguished guests, I am delighted to report that building this R43 million facility has provided the opportunity to spread government's Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) programme, with the awarding of the contract to joint venture partners, JJG/Sekati Construction. Black Economic Empowerment participation totalled 34 percent of the contract value.

This demonstrates our commitment to the national effort to bring more and more black people into mainstream economic participation through among others, affirmative procurement. We will strive to improve and exceed these levels of black empowerment as we continue to roll out infrastructural developments to meet the needs for 2010 and beyond.

George is a vital player in the Acsa network of ten airports that covers about 98 percent of the country's commercial air traffic. In the previous financial year this network processed a total of nearly 33 million departing and arriving passengers and 270 000 aircraft landings from about 50 international destinations.

Over the past few years Acsa has invested over R5 billion to meet the demands of increased traffic and for improved service delivery. George can today boast its new terminal as the most recent addition to the portfolio of smart, modern and user-friendly facilities that place our airports at the forefront of global excellence.

Government as a majority shareholder welcomes Acsa's commitment to upgrade South Africa's airports to international best standards allowing its customer base to benefit through the growth and profitability of their businesses. There has been a welcomed increase in investment in critical infrastructure by state owned enterprises in the transport sector.

As you may be aware, several infrastructure upgrades are in progress and others have taken place at airports across the country. Acsa will be spending R4,8 billion this year as part of its program of R19,3 billion in the next five years. Ladies and gentlemen, with those few words allow me to declare the new terminal at George Airport officially open!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Transport
6 September 2007
Source: SAPA