KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube’s recent publicity stunt – while wearing a commercial pilot’s uniform – at the launch of an aviation academy in Pietermaritzburg will be interrogated by the DA.
While the DA fully supports the expansion and support of the aviation industry, it is ironic that it was under the watch of the former EDTEA MEC, who is now Premier, that KZN’s regional airports have eroded almost to the point of no return.
The Premier’s appearance at Oribi Airport comes amid a flurry of complaints from the industry over the same airport. Concerns raised include allegations of faulty runway lights along with a lack of firefighting capabilities, electricity supply and ablutions. This amid the potential for the airport’s licence to be pulled.
While Dube-Ncube and the ANC continue to make bold sweeping statements and promises on the aviation industry, it is their own policy and foreign relations blunders that have kept our youth out of the cockpit. Deteriorating economic growth, support of the Russian state, ANC-inspired riots and a dwindling Rand/Dollar exchange rate has all but collapsed the aviation industry.
An hour of dual training in a simple Cessna 150 training aircraft costs at least R1 200 more than it did 10 years ago. Turbine ratings, which are essential to airline industry employees can cost at least $2 200 an hour.
The Premier’s assertions that KZN’s Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) Department will support the Pietermartizburg-based training academy cannot go unchallenged.
This unexpected and unbudgeted move again demonstrates the ANC’s race- based policies and is out of touch with the reality of aviation – and even the potential for real empowerment. These flaws include;
• EDTEA does not have the funds to sponsor any aviation training programmes as budgets have little wiggle room
• The entity was unable to find R60 million to fix Ezemvelo fences and stop Rhino poaching, yet it is now committing to further expenditure.
The average cost of a Commercial Pilots License is at least R500 000 – with students only being able to attain an Airline Transport Pilots License at 23 years of age, after flying 1 000 hours.
A glut of low-hour commercial pilots already exists in South Africa – with many not able to find even medium-paying aviation employment. These same low-hour commercial pilots are not being drafted into the formal airline industry due to a lack of experience and the bottom falling out of domestic carrier routes.
Redressing South Africa’s unequal past is a cornerstone of DA policy. However, there remain too many questions in this case, including who will choose aspirant pilots that will qualify for government funding – and whether this will be a transparent and fair process.
Given the Premier’s clear assertions on the matter, there is no doubt the government will again use race-based politics to empower the very few at the expense of all taxpayers.