by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, George
6 September 2007
Programme Director Mr Deon Cloete
Municipal Manager of George Mr Bazil Petrus
Chairperson of Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) Board, Dr Franklin
Sonn
Members of the Acsa Board who are present here today
Acsa Managing Director, Ms Monhla Hlahla and her management team
Members of media
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is indeed a great pleasure for me to be part of an event that bears
testimony to the accelerated implementation of Government's Airports
development programme, through Acsa. The new improved and expanded terminal we
are opening today demonstrates the great strides that Acsa has taken in
ensuring that its airport facilities meet world-class standards and are able to
accommodate the ever increasing passenger traffic.
The new and refurbished infrastructure improves on Acsa's ability to extend
the best service we can to customers travelling through our airports in true
African tradition. The town of George we are in today lies in one of our
premier tourist attractions in the country, the Garden Route.
Year in and year out this town continues to experience growing influx of
tourists lured to the region's mountains, beaches and forests, not to mention
the numerous golf courses. Passenger traffic at the airport is forecast to
reach the one million mark in 2012 from projections of about 670 000 by end of
the current financial year.
It is, therefore, necessary that infrastructural upgrade be implemented to
cope with surging passenger traffic and to ensure that travelling through
Acsa's airports remains an enjoyable and comfortable experience. The George
Airport may be relatively small but it is growing at a fast pace and acts an
important component in the Acsa network of airports.
We believe that the new infrastructure will go a long way in assisting this
already well-run airport to raise its service standards. It is worth mentioning
that the George Airport has won the "Airport of the Year" trophy five times
since the South African Airways launched the award in 1987.
What does all this mean for George itself?
Distinguished guests, I am delighted to report that building this R43
million facility has provided the opportunity to spread government's
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) programme, with the awarding of
the contract to joint venture partners, JJG/Sekati Construction. Black Economic
Empowerment participation totalled 34 percent of the contract value.
This demonstrates our commitment to the national effort to bring more and
more black people into mainstream economic participation through among others,
affirmative procurement. We will strive to improve and exceed these levels of
black empowerment as we continue to roll out infrastructural developments to
meet the needs for 2010 and beyond.
George is a vital player in the Acsa network of ten airports that covers
about 98 percent of the country's commercial air traffic. In the previous
financial year this network processed a total of nearly 33 million departing
and arriving passengers and 270 000 aircraft landings from about 50
international destinations.
Over the past few years Acsa has invested over R5 billion to meet the
demands of increased traffic and for improved service delivery. George can
today boast its new terminal as the most recent addition to the portfolio of
smart, modern and user-friendly facilities that place our airports at the
forefront of global excellence.
Government as a majority shareholder welcomes Acsa's commitment to upgrade
South Africa's airports to international best standards allowing its customer
base to benefit through the growth and profitability of their businesses. There
has been a welcomed increase in investment in critical infrastructure by state
owned enterprises in the transport sector.
As you may be aware, several infrastructure upgrades are in progress and
others have taken place at airports across the country. Acsa will be spending
R4,8 billion this year as part of its program of R19,3 billion in the next five
years. Ladies and gentlemen, with those few words allow me to declare the new
terminal at George Airport officially open!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
6 September 2007
Source: SAPA
