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On Thursday, the DA in Limpopo read out a member statement in the Limpopo Legislature regarding concerns over the decision by Airlink to suspend its flights to Polokwane International Airport with immediate effect.

This comes after the South African Civil Aviation Authority downgraded the Polokwane International Airport to category two, which is below the minimum level required for scheduled commercial air services.

The airport was found to be non-compliant with safety regulations.

Gateway Airport Authority Limited (GAAL) is the entity currently assigned with the sole responsibility to manage Polokwane International Airport.

According to GAAL’s Annual Performance Plan for 2020/2021 this small entity spends 63.7% of the R54 953 000 budget allocated by the Department of Transport and Community Safety on Administration.

GAAL’S projected income for the Polokwane International Airport for the 2020/201 financial year was estimated at R26 million through aeronautical services, rentals, parking and conferencing amongst others.

Due to the Covid lockdown restrictions the airport incurred a loss of income but we believe that GAAL should have had contingencies in place to prevent a downgrade which led to a closure of the airport.

GAAL has been marred with inefficiency, maladministration and corruption for years. The consistent lack of competent individuals in its employ and the chronic vacancies equates to GAAL not only flying blind in its day to day operations, but it was caught off guard with the downgrade.

The DA is extremely disappointed by the de-categorization of the airport and its inability to provide the minimum level of emergency services required to maintain its aerodrome license category but we are not shocked as we have continuously raised the incompetent management of GAAL.

We further believe that a competent entity would have foreseen the possibility of a downgrade and would have made provisions to prevent this at all costs.

There needs to be consequence management for the board, senior officials and even the MEC in line with her service agreement signed with premier for allowing GAAL and the airport to deteriorate to this level.

We will further write to the Committee Chairperson on Transport and Community Safety,  Ms Seono , for the Committee to embark on an oversight visit and to summon the MEC before the committee to explain reasons for the downgrade and to ensure compliance in order to get Polokwane International Airport operational for commercial flights as a matter of urgency.

The Polokwane International Airport is the commercial gateway to Limpopo and businesses will be severely affected by the lack of fast access into and out of the province. We cannot afford anymore hindrances as a result of incompetency to our province’s economic growth.

Issued by The DA