The PR Mpephu Airport does not benefit the Limpopo province or its people.
This became evident during yesterday’s oversight visit to the Airport by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) and Limpopo’s Departments of Transport, Community Safety and Public Works.
Gateway Airport Authority Limited (GAAL) manages the Airport, which is located in Vuwani, just outside Thohoyandou in the Vhembe District.
The oversight visit revealed concerning shortcomings.
Although the Airport has been closed for some time, as it is due for upgrades, commercial flights continue to land there without supervision, so, there is a lack of control over passengers or goods being loaded or unloaded.
The Airport’s proximity to Zimbabwe and Mozambique, combined with the lack of proper control measures, makes it easy to exploit for, among other things, human trafficking and smuggling of illegal firearms and drugs.
Another cause for concern is the Airport’s condition. The main building currently serves as a storage space for documentation, the fire station is dilapidated, the grounds are overgrown with grass and there is no fencing to keep stray animals off the runway.
This poses serious safety risks for any aircraft attempting to land or take off.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, the provincial government is wasting taxpayers’ money by injecting funds into the Airport.
As it is, the Airport is a white elephant making no contribution to the district’s economy or tourism opportunities.
The only way to ensure it is commercially viable and turns a profit is to involve private investors. A private partnership could provide the necessary capital and expertise to run the Airport safely and cost-effectively.
