22 Junie 2012
Potchefstroom Herald
An architects visualisation of the proposed Flight School at Potchefstroom Airport.
Flight School or flight of fancy – can we pull it off?
Cheryl Botha Tlokwe City Council has embraced the idea of turning Potchefstroom’s airfield into a R275m specialised recreational and training airport with passenger capability. Mr Theo Venter announced during his presentation at a council meeting on Tuesday that a delegation from SAA will be visiting Potchefstroom on 11 July with a view to meeting with the leadership and conducting a site visit. The organisation has identified ten possible locations for the flight academy, but Potchefstroom’s favourable climate, its proximity to Gauteng, the airfield and NWU, as well as the performance of Tlokwe City Council as a municipality make it as close a fit to the needs of the academy as one can get. After the presentation the chief whip, Mr David Kham, expressed concern that the provincial government has yet to make good on its commitment to reimburse Tlokwe for the R27 million spent on the extension of the runway in 2010. The upgrade was undertaken to accommodate the Spanish Soccer team during the World Cup, but it has not been meaningfully utilised since then. Should the proposal go ahead as hoped, the airfield will benefit from a significant investment in infrastructure, including
runway changes, navigational upgrades, an enlarged apron, a refuelling upgrade and a multifunctional building for 450 students, four simulators, a fire and rescue station, a student hostel and hangars for 20 aircraft. The addition of 350 pilots in training, 40 instructors and various administrative staff is bound to have further spin-offs for the local economy. According to SAA estimates, one student will create jobs for ten people in the housing, construction, food and catering sectors as well as in related services. Mr Johan Janse van Rensburg, chairperson of Potch Tlokwe Chamber of Commerce is delighted about the latest developments, saying the Chamber had identified the airport as a key priority last year. He added that it would be an opportunity to optimise the potential of an existing investment, and that it would add a whole new dimension to the ‘City of Expertise’.” Venter pointed out that the facility would be a national asset and landmark, and would also attract other services. He urged council to take the proposal seriously and make the right decision, in time. Council’s job will be to establish an independent airport authority, secure a 99-year lease from the Department of Public Works, commission a comprehensive report and establish a public private partnership.
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Some of the damaged road traffic signs.
19 road traffic signs wrecked Victor Boqo Nineteen road traffic signs were beaten down over a 20 km stretch on the Vanderbijl Park road, off from Parys Road. One of the Herald readers was driving on the road towards Vanderbijl Park on Tuesday when he noticed the traffic signs. “According to the national road traffic act, it is a criminal offence to steal, remove or demolish the traffic road signs,” said an official who didn’t want to be named. He said it is extremely expensive to replace road traffic signs. The damage to signs is estimated to be an amount of R 50 000. It is not yet known who caused the damage to the signs.
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