Virginia Airport future still uncertain
Local councillor says city manager, Sbu Sithole, has failed the city as Virginia Airport operators still face uncertainty over lease renewels.
UNCERTAINTY is something Virginia Airport operators have had to face for almost two years since eThekwini city manager S’bu Sithole non-committal stance on renewing the leases of operators. It has been said Sithole reneged on the council’s agreement that the operators be issued 10-year-leases early last year after the operators on month-to-month lease.
City manager has failed
DA ward councillor, Dean Macpherson, called on the council to immediately terminate the contract of the city manager and fire him over his handling over the Virginia Airport lease saga.
“From media reports, the city manager has now indicated that he once again will not finalise leases with the airport operators despite assurances to do so. This also flies in the face of a council resolution in October 2011 agreed to by all political parties, for the operators to receive new leases.
“The eThekwini municipality now faces an unprecedented situation where an official refuses to carry out an order of the political body. The city manager has also indicated he has development plans for the Virginia Airport site when no such mandate exists for him to develop such plans,” Macpherson said. He added Virginia Airport operators have indicated that they will seek relief to this matter through the courts.
“What is more ironic is that this announcement comes two days after the Tourism Indaba, ending where the city is trying to punt tourism and job creation, two areas that the airport is an active contributor towards. What’s going to happen to all the people employed through the airport? There’s no budget for moving and this uncertainty is harmful to local businesses based at Virginia,” he said.
Losing Virginia Airport would be a tragedy to industry
Brian Emmenis, veteran airshow commentator said the Virginia Airshow being the second oldest airshow in the world, is a very special South African event and seen as an attraction for aviation enthusiasts.
“The Virginia Airshow is recognised as one of the best in the world and any hint of closing the airport would be a tragedy to the aviation industry. It would also be a loss to the economy. The airshow is responsible for a huge influx of tourists every year,” Emmenis said.
Airport is a key component of the North
One of the first occupants of Virginia Airport, the Duban Wings Club (DWC), concurred with Emmenis. Peter Smith, chairman of the management committee at DWC, said from a club’s perspective, closing the airport would be a tragedy.
“As a club we’ve been based at Virginia for more than 50 years. We’re not sure where we’d move to if there is no resolution regarding the leases. A key part of what DWC is about is promoting aviation and the Airshow, and getting young people to explore oportunities in the aviation industry,” Smith said. Despite attempts via email and phone calls, there has been no response from the city manager.
