Council ‘drags heels’ over airport leases

ETHEKWINI Municipality has not yet finalised its lease with Virginia Airport, seven months after the decision to extend it was unanimously endorsed by the council, based on recommendations by the economic development and planning committee.

The leases of operators and businesses at the airport, which include a pilots’ association, three aircraft maintenance companies, five flight schools and 13 charter businesses, expired in March. But the new lease agreement has still not been finalised.

Municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said the city had held talks with existing occupants and all of them were keen to conclude new 10-year leases for their hangars.

“However, the council has to approve these new lease proposals,” he said.

“Pending approval of these proposals and in order to regularise continued occupation of the hangars in the meantime, short-term tenancy agreements, terminable by either party on one month’s notice, have been offered to the existing occupants.”

The DA has expressed disappointment in the municipality for “dragging its heels” in finalising mediumterm leases with operators at the airport.

DA chief whip Dean Macpherson said the delay came from the legal department and was shrouded in “mystery and silence”.

“However, the DA believes this is incorrect as it is individual leases under R10m that are being signed and, therefore, no public participation process is required,” he said.

“The legal department appears to be holding on to an opinion which believes that public participation should be required for the leases applicable due to the opinion that the entity is valued over R10m.”

Macpherson said he would be seeking a meeting with Economic Development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu to ask for provincial government intervention.

“I believe this issue threatens the very livelihood of the airport and the hundreds of jobs that it creates,” he said.