Visiting Bloemfontein on Thursday (8/10), Dean Macpherson said strong local government leadership is essential to delivering infrastructure and attracting investment, citing provincial airport redevelopment projects as examples of the opportunities and challenges involved. He stressed the importance of partnerships between national government and municipalities in advancing infrastructure development.

Speaking on the Pilanesberg International Airport, he said the R2bn project is among the country’s priority infrastructure initiatives and aims to modernise terminal, airside and landside infrastructure while establishing a commercially viable public-private partnership. 

The airport is expected to strengthen connectivity to the Pilanesberg-Sun City tourism corridor, support the regional platinum economy and create opportunities in tourism and cargo logistics.

“You need to have local partnerships, and you need to have people you can work with,” said Macpherson. “Particularly in local government, you have to have those partnerships. If you don’t, and if you shut out national government, it's very difficult to do things.

“The kind of local government that you have is really important, and that’s the message that I’m getting from people: they want competent local government leaders that can get the job done.”

“There is more than enough money, but it’s about getting it properly tendered, properly appointed, and completed on time and on budget. We need to make sure that it works for the people, not for politicians, not for officials, and not for the connected few.”

The Pilanesberg Airport was gutted by a fire in 2023, and it is alleged a security guard noticed smoke at the facility but could not immediately determine its source. Further investigations revealed the fire had started near the air traffic control tower.

Airport personnel rushed to contain the blaze, but the flames spread rapidly. Within moments, the roof of the airport terminal collapsed, leaving the facility severely damaged and requiring extensive reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the Matjhabeng municipality previously announced plans for a R5bn redevelopment of the Welkom Cargo Airport into an international cargo hub, alongside a proposed special economic zone and the revitalisation of Phakisa Raceway. The project was presented as an opportunity to stimulate investment and create jobs across Welkom, Odendaalsrus and Virginia.

However, an inspection in October last year raised concerns about deteriorating runway lights, damaged wind socks and broader maintenance failures. Questions were also raised about whether proposed redevelopment work had the necessary regulatory authorisation.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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