Virginia Aiport: jobs at risk

DEMOCRATIC Alliance eThekwini caucus leader Zwakele Mncwango, accompanied by economic development whip, Nicole Graham and Durban North ward councillor, Dean Macpherson paid a visit to Virginia Airport to meet with operators on Thursday last week to discuss the ongoing lease saga and the knock-on effect the uncertainty is having on job security. The DA councillors were met by Daryl Mann, the owner of Aero Natal, who has led the legal fight for the leases on behalf of the operators.

‘I’ve offered my services to council’

Mann, who has more than 40 years in the aviation industry, believes the city manager’s decision not to agree to a long term solution is because he has received ‘bad advice’.

“I’ve offered my services to council, free of charge, on a number of occasions. The current situation is bad for job security. How to you build business confidence with this much uncertainty?” he said.

Mann added staff were taking other jobs because it offered them long term prospects.

“Most of the residents around Virginia would rather have the airport than some massive development. You can build houses and hotels anywhere but you cannot replace an airport,” he said.

‘We will fight to keep Virginia where it is’

DA ward councillor, Dean Macpherson said the party is dismayed at the refusal of the city manager to honour a council resolution in October 2011 to finalise the leases with operators. “We will continue to use pressure in council and committee to ensure the city manager abides by the council decision.

“This has now led to the situation where much needed funds are being lost to other airports. KZN Treasury has not made funding available for the airport because of the lack of leases for operators. Instead, the critical funding, up to R50-million has been diverted to other airports in Margate, Ulundi and Richards Bay which is a huge loss to Virginia Airport,” he said.

Macpherson assured operators the party would committ its full support to them and would continue to do everything possible to ensure the leases are resolved.

Operators are important stakeholders

Speaking to Northglen News, about the lease saga last week, Sithole said in no uncertain terms, ‘there is no saga’ and the fact was operators were on month-to-month leases. He added his role as city manager was to mediate between the operators and the broader citizens of the city.

“The DA is obviously playing their role as opposition and my role is to look at solutions that will benefit the future of the aviation industry. The operators are important stakeholders in this matter,” he said. Sithole added there will be a solution but would not say what it was, adding that operators would be consulted.