‘No more excuses’ as MEC introduces Gaal revival team
MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya is hopeful that the team will work around the clock to ensure that normalcy is restored and for commercial activities to resume.
POLOKWANE – A team of administrators, comprised of middle and senior management staff employed at the Department of Transport and Community Safety, have been introduced to Gateway Airports Authority Limited’s management.
The department’s Media Liaison Officer, Mike Maringa, said the administrators are employed in the human resource, anti-fraud and risk, internal control and compliance, financial accounting and supply chain management sections of the department.
Maringa explained that MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya introduced the team as the department moves for the revival of the entity.
“The supplementary team seconded to Gaal, will be led by Chief Directors; Elmine Koedyk and M.A. Nhlane-Mthimkhulu. The decision follows the downgrading of the Polokwane Aerodrome licence from category 7 to category 2 by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) with effect from 6 April, which means that there will be no commercial flights allowed at the airport until the findings of the Ad Hoc inspection by Sacaa are addressed. The aviation authority identified 14 severe findings that led to the downgrading of the airport,” Maringa added.
Read more: ‘Little emergency back-up’: Airlink suspends Polokwane airport flights
Lerule-Ramakhanya indicated that the administration should understand the projects happening at the airport for effective oversite.
“There should be specialised personnel in the overall team to enable credible evaluations and opinion reports. If there is no specialist, there should be consultations and extensive research to avoid applying common sense on technical issues,” Lerule-Ramakhanya remarked.
The MEC reminded the collective to keep in mind that the airport contributes positively to the economic cluster.
“We must remember that we are accountable to the province, the country and the community at large and therefore, professionalism should be practiced as we move for the revival of Gaal and work against human-error delays. No more excuses. Let’s get to work,” she concluded. MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya said.
The MEC is hopeful that the team will work around the clock to ensure that normalcy is restored and for commercial activities to resume.
Also read: Appeals process underway after Polokwane airport downgrade
