The announcement that the Welkom Airport will be converted into a cargo airport has caused a huge stir in a hornet’s nest.
In an urgent press statement, the Democratic Alliance is calling for transparency and accountability from all stakeholders involved in the long-stalled Welkom Cargo Airport project.
Dr Igor Scheurkogel, and DA councillor Estelle Dansey have in a joint statement said that despite fifteen years of promises and planning, the initiative remains shrouded in secrecy, unanswered questions, and alleged irregularities.
Scheurkogel says that through the select committee on Public Infrastructure and Transport in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), the DA submitted questions to the Department of Transport to clarify the project’s status.
“The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has since confirmed that her department is unaware of any official applications or approvals related to the airport’s development,” he says.
The DA in Matjhabeng also submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request to the Municipal Manager’s office, seeking documentation to confirm whether the lease agreement was authorised correctly.
After the statutory 30-day period elapsed without a response, the matter was escalated to Parliament for further investigation.
Scheurkogel says that despite renewed assurances and planning efforts, serious concerns remain regarding the project’s feasibility, transparency, and overall integrity. “There has been no environmental impact study conducted; however, there are two indigenous and endangered species present, the Sungazers and Flamingos.”
Vista also understands that no public participation has been done.
The DA, in collaboration with the Welkom Business Forum, has engaged with both the Matjhabeng Local Municipality and the project developer.
“While we support the project’s potential to create jobs and stimulate local economic growth, we hold significant reservations about the process being followed. Most notably, the developer claims to have signed a 40-year lease agreement with the municipality without the council’s approval. Despite repeated requests, no lease agreement has been provided, and the rights of existing tenants appear to have been wholly disregarded,” says Dansey.
They say it must be emphasised that the initiative must serve the broader community of Welkom, not just a privileged few or politically connected individuals. “Any attempt to use this project as a front for misappropriating public resources will be firmly opposed and exposed. We will continue to pursue this matter at both parliamentary and local government levels until complete transparency is achieved, and the residents of Welkom receive the accountability they deserve.”
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