Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Estelle Dansey and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng. See attached picture here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matjhabeng will take urgent steps to ensure complete transparency and real progress on the long-promised Welkom Cargo Airport project. Six weeks after the site was ceremonially handed over to Sébastien Investissements and Logistique (Pty) Ltd, residents have seen no construction activity, no public engagement, and no clarity on the project’s future.
This handover sparked immediate and valid questions from the public, the business community, and councillors, questions that remain unanswered to this day.
Despite a formal Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request submitted, the terms of the lease agreement between the Matjhabeng Municipality and Sébastien Investissements and Logistique (Pty) Ltd have still not been made public. Why the secrecy around a project that is supposedly intended to bring significant economic benefits to our community?
The lack of transparency and visible progress is alarming. Nearly six weeks after the ceremonial handover, there has been no groundwork, construction activity, or clear public communication from the developer.
During initial engagements, Sébastien Investissements and Logistique (Pty) Ltd’s project manager, Ms. Yvonne Reece, assured ward councillors that the company’s next visit to Welkom would include a public meeting to outline job opportunities and project timelines. This meeting has not taken place.
It has been alleged that instead of hosting such a meeting, Ms. Reece has appeared at Imbizos with the Executive Mayor, events described as inherently political. If these allegations are correct, they raise serious concerns: Is the Welkom Cargo Airport project being leveraged as a political campaign tool ahead of the Local Government Elections? Are residents being offered empty promises to score political points rather than genuine, documented opportunities?
The people of Matjhabeng deserve clear answers:
- The full terms and conditions of the lease agreement.
- Confirmed project timelines and a binding commencement date.
- The documented scope and number of job opportunities.
We call on Matjhabeng Municipality and Sébastien Investissements and Logistique (Pty) Ltd to take the following specific actions:
- Commit to a public meeting with stakeholders.
- Demonstrate tangible progress on the ground without further delay.
The time for secrecy and political theatre is over. The residents of Welkom demand action, not just photo opportunities.