the launch of the Mafikeng Airshow and the adoption of the Sasol Tigers Team of
Aerobatics, Mafikeng Airport
5 July 2006
Programme Director,
MEC for Safety, Transport and Roads, honourable Jerry Thibedi,
The South African Air Force General, Lucky Ngema,
The Executive Mayor of Mafikeng, Cllr M Sejosengoe,
Kgosi Montshioa,
Head of the Department of Safety, Roads and Transport, Mr Nic van Staden,
Management and staff of the Mafikeng Airport,
Managing Director of Sasol,
Managing Director of WesBank,
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen:
I am extremely delighted to get this opportunity to say a few words as we
launch the Mafikeng Airshow 2006 and adopt the inimitable Sasol Tigers as the
Aviation Ambassadors of the North West province.
Most of you here will remember the two dedicated members of the Sasol Tigers
in particular Johnny Hattingh and Gabriel Ndabandaba, who died last year when
their plane crashed during an aerobatic display in Vereeniging two days before
the Mafikeng Airshow 2005.
You would probably be aware also that recently we lost one of our own, Mr
Johan Jacobs, a dedicated dragster and airshow participant.
Johan Jacobs ran his Castrol edge showdown jet dragster recently at the
Amsterdam raceway in Mpumalanga, in the process setting a new one kilometre top
end record in South Africa and was due to take part in the Mafikeng Airshow
2006 that we are launching today.
We have already expressed our sincere and deepest condolences to his family
and the entire Castrol edge showdown team.
We add Johan Jacobsâ name today to those two other brave pilots of the Sasol
Tigers, Gabriel Ndabandaba and Johnny Hattingh, whom we remember and honour as
we adopt the remainder of their team the Sasol Tigers and launch what is
certain to become another successful Mafikeng Airshow to be held here later
this year.
I am certain that the memory of Jacobs, Ndabandaba and Hattingh, their
spirit and passion for aerobatics and penchant for outstanding flying formation
will be with the rest of the Sasol Tigers as they utilise the Mafikeng Airport
as the base for their training, away from the clustered skies of Gauteng and
other areas.
Those of you who have seen the Sasol Tigers in action will no doubt agree
with me that their antics in the air, their pure skill in flying formation and
the sheer precision with which they fly these planes make all those of us on
the ground to stand up and pay attention. To watch them fly these machines is
to bear witness to a true display of Airtainment that is entertainment in the
air.
As they say the sound of thunder of the Sasol Tigers attracts attention,
this attention leads to interest while interest gives birth to desire and
desire ultimately leads to action.
We are therefore extremely proud to attach the name of the North West
Provincial Government to both the Sasol Tigers and the Mafikeng Airshow once
more, convinced that the activities of the Mafikeng Airshow in particular will
arouse the amount of interest and action from our young previously
disadvantaged youths to take an active interest in the aviation industry.
Indeed, when we launched the Mafikeng Airshow for the first time last year,
we spoke highly of the potential benefits such a show brought with it including
the opportunity it gave us to demystify aviation and take it to our young
people as well as growing an interest in our province as a tourist destination,
the benefits of all of which will put us in an unstoppable path of growth and
development in line with the Mafikeng Industrial Development Zone (MIDZ), our
Provincial Growth and Development Strategy (PGDS) and the objectives of the
Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).
I am certain also that you have seen the skydivers this morning. These
parachute guys were today launching part of the action that will be in display
at the African Freefall Convention in December 2006. About 400 of these guys
participated in the same African Freefall Convention last year and this year
Mafikeng Airport intends to double that amount.
Since the Mafikeng Airshow and the African Freefall Convention last year,
there has been an incredible growing interest to participate in our airtainment
generally and in freefalling in particular, coming as far abroad as the country
of Saudi Arabia who have expressed their desire to be trained in
freefalling.
I have been further reliably informed that negotiations and plans are
underway to have aviation and flying schools situated right on these premises.
We hope all these plans will bear fruit so that at the end of the day, we lend
true meaning to our determination to take aviation to the people.
We have a duty to expose the Mafikeng Airport to the world and the airshow
does precisely that and more. As you can see, the airport is being upgraded and
we have a good weather for flying. We have good accommodation as well as all
the necessary ingredients to make this airport home to some of the best
airtainment you can ever wish for.
As I have mentioned, the Mafikeng Airshow has begun to bear fruits as a
catalyst that generates aviation interest in our province we therefore hope
that this year the momentum will be sustained and we will begin to see more and
more of those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds playing a greater
part in these activities.
With these few words I would like to thank all of you for giving me an
opportunity to address you during the launch of the Mafikeng Airshow and the
adoption of the Sasol Tigers.
I sincerely hope that more and more people will come and fly here. I am
looking forward to the Mafikeng Airshow 2006!
Thank you very much for your time.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
5 July 2006
m<OED>
