Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Estelle Dansey and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL. See attached picture here.
The DA in Matjhabeng is concerned by recent developments surrounding the Welkom Airport project, where it has emerged that the original contractor, Sebastien Logistique, has reportedly appointed a new consultancy, a company based in Dubai, to complete the long-delayed development.
Nearly a year has passed since the much-publicised launch of the Welkom Airport project. Residents were promised economic growth, job creation and investment. Instead, they have been met with an empty construction site, unanswered questions and a project that appears to have made virtually no visible progress.
Representatives from the new Consultancy have now been assigned to complete the project. This raises several critical questions:
- Was the appointment of this Consultancy approved by the relevant authorities?
- Does Sebastien Logistique have the contractual authority to appoint another company to execute the project?
- Has the scope of work, budget or contractual obligations changed?
- What oversight is being exercised by Matjhabeng Local Municipality and other government stakeholders?
- When can residents realistically expect construction to begin?
The DA welcomes any genuine effort to get this important project back on track. However, transparency and accountability cannot be sacrificed. A project of this magnitude cannot simply change contractors behind closed doors while residents are left in the dark.
This latest development follows months of concern over the complete lack of visible construction activity despite repeated announcements that the airport redevelopment was progressing. The continued delays undermine investor confidence and raise legitimate concerns about project governance.
The people of Matjhabeng deserve more than press conferences and promises. They deserve honest communication, proper oversight and tangible progress.
The DA therefore calls on:
- Matjhabeng Local Municipality to publicly clarify the contractual status of the project.
- Sebastien Logistique to explain the appointment of the new Consultancy and the legal basis for this arrangement.
- All relevant stakeholders to provide a revised implementation programme with clear timelines and milestones.
Welkom Airport has the potential to become a catalyst for economic development in the Goldfields. That potential will only be realised through competent project management, transparency and accountability, not through secrecy and endless delays.
The DA will continue to monitor developments closely and will use every available oversight mechanism to ensure that the residents of Matjhabeng receive the answers they deserve.