It was meant to be a routine assessment. But it revealed safety hazards, poor maintenance, and possible irregularities surrounding a private company’s plans to redevelop the airport without proper authorisation.

The visit on Wednesday, 1 October, revealed widespread neglect, with key infrastructure such as runway lights and wind socks in disrepair, posing serious risks for pilots and aircraft operations.

In June, Matjhabeng municipality took a step toward revitalising its regional economy with the official site handover for the R5 billion project. Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipa formally handed over the site of the current Welkom airport to Sébastien Investissements and Logistique (Pty) Ltd, the company spearheading the airport’s redevelopment into an international cargo hub.

“The inspection revealed Matjhabeng municipality has not kept up and maintained the airport, resulting in critical safety hazards,” said Free State NCOP member Dr Igor Scheurkogel. Runway lights installed for R3 million are working sporadically, with many damaged or broken.

“Of the three windsock structures on site, two have no windsocks attached, and the remaining one is only partially intact – posing a serious risk to pilots during landing or take-off. The only reason this airport remains operational is due to the presence of local businesspeople who maintain hangars there. 

“While leaving the airport, we were confronted by a man from Sébastien Investissements, claiming the company had been permitted to begin renovations. However, no license has been issued by the CAA, and the department of transport has not authorised the conversion of the airport into a cargo hub.”

One of the lights installed at the airport is working all the others are broken. Photo supplied

City Press previously reported just two days after the August 2023 procurement was announced, jailed businessman Katiso Molefe allegedly used a company that had been registered to plan a multi-billion-rand cargo airport development project heist in the Matjhabeng municipality.

The upgraded airport will feature a 5km runway and accommodate large cargo aircraft, as well as passenger and private planes. It is one of several strategic initiatives under the Matjhabeng municipality aimed at driving economic renewal in the Free State’s Goldfields region, which includes Welkom, Odendaalsrus, and Virginia.

OFM News sent an inquiry to the Matjhabeng municipality. 

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