Issued by: North West Communication Service
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NORTH WEST GOVERNMENT - 14 FEBRUARY 1996
The North West provincial government on Wednesday announced a R65 million funding scheme for the upgrading of the Pilanesberg Airport, near Sun City, to cope with a dramatic increase in tourist numbers.
The announcement came at the end of a meeting of Premier Popo Molefe's Executive Council in Mmabatho.
The upgrading will begin in the next two months, and the project will see several phases which could mean the original R65 million being increased in the next five years.
Of the amount, R42 million will be immediately earmarked to upgrade the airport.
A Sun International spokesman said the number of foreign tourists visiting Sun City had risen almost 20-fold since the new democratic order came into being under President Nelson Mandela.
In addition to the upgrading of the Pilanesberg Airport, Mr Molefe's provincial cabinet also agreed to a feasibility study of all North West airports with the view to making optimal use of the facilities.
In particular, facilities at the Mmabatho International Airport will be studied to ensure that it is able to service southern Africa, in particular in the fields of cargo and freight transportation.
To this end, the North West Government sees Mmabatho International Airport as an important conduit for freight and cargo to Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
It is believed that several thousand jobs will be created out of the project.
Contact: Willie Modise 082-5584-087