STATEMENT BY THE NORTH WEST MEC FOR TRANSPORT, ROADS AND PUBLIC WORKS, ON THE FUTURE OF THE MAFIKENG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Issued by North West Province Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works,

19 April 2001

I should start by saying the Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works could have done more to timeously address the non-compliance issues raised by the Civil Aviation Authority, CAA.

I must also stress that the suspension of the license is temporary. An impression has been created by a particular pattern of media reports that the license suspension came about because the CAA pounced on us.

The fact of the matter is that we were aware of the issues of non-compliance raised by the CAA. Our failure to address them shows that we don't have capacity as government to operate the Mafikeng International Airport hence we have engaged the expertise of a private company to facilitate the process.

The temporary suspension of the airport license is a minor setback. It is also history that we have gone through this setback. What we need to concentrate on is what we have done so far to address the non-compliance issues:

• The Department has set aside R4.4 million to procure the necessary equipment with 80% of the money already spent.
• A company is about to be appointed to manage the Mafikeng International Airport.
• The training of staff is at an advanced stage.

Seventy percent of our efforts to comply with the CAA standards are completed and I am confident that come 1 May 2001 we would have met the required standards.

Contact: James Moche at 082 802 0585