The city is ‘killing’ Virginia Airport

CITY manager Sbu Sithole has been accused of ‘hiding’ a recently commissioned a feasibility study on the future and possible move of Virginia Airport. The study was done by Royal HaskoningDHV.

Speaking to Northglen News, Daryl Mann, owner of Aero Natal, who has led the legal fight for the leases on behalf of the operator said the city were ‘killing’ Virginia Aiport and that the future of the airport was still uncertain.

“The reason why no one is investing in Virginia Aiport is because of the uncertainty over the lease agreement. The city is killing the airport. I’ve requested a copy of the new study, which is the third commissioned by the municipality on the future of the airport and have not had any repsonse. We are entitled to this document and the city manager seems to be hiding it. He has no right to do what he is doing,” Mann said.

He added the suggestion that the airport be moved to Scottburgh was a joke. “I’m not even going to entertain this suggestion because it’s just ridiculous.”

On Thursday, Durban North councillor, Shaun Ryley, had made an application in terms of the Public Access to Information Act (PAIA) in order to obtain access to the full report on the feasibility of the Virginia Airport.

Ryley said the move had come about after a failed attempt to get any feedback on the matter from eThekwini City Manager, Sbu Sithole.

“On Friday, 12 September, I hand delivered a letter to the office of the city manager asking for the full report to be furnished to my office. In my letter, I made it clear that the manner in which the full report is being held is not in the best interests of transparent and accountable government and as such it is of extreme importance that this report is released and made public without any further delay.

“The DA believes that as requests for perusal of the document are being dodged, doubt is being cast on the legitimacy of the process and even on the report itself. It would seem that, on the face of it, some entity stands to gain substantially from the removal of the airport.

“However, it should also be noted the party is not the only one who is battling to elicit any answers as airport operators are also being kept in the dark. The operators feel that, as affected parties, they have a right to access the findings of the report but their requests for meetings have been brushed off,” he said.

He added the debate surrounding the future of the airport had continuously been deferred from one municipal meeting to the next and for the month of September thus far, every exco meeting has been cancelled.

Attempts to get any comment from Sbu Sithole were unsuccessful. The paper was later told he was overseas and could not be reached for comment.