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With the designation of Bhisho/Bulembu Airport in the Eastern Cape as an international port of entry set to lapse on May 12, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will appear before the Home Affairs Committee to answer questions about the visit of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Abu Dhabi Than the ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his entourage.
Several ministers came together last week to provide an update on the visit, saying South African authorities “can explain the whereabouts of every visitor accompanying the president.” [of the UAE]”.
Motsoaledi and the Border Service chief had initially been asked to convene a special meeting of the Home Affairs Committee scheduled for May 2 to “comprehensively report and account for the landing”, but this was postponed until May 5.
Motsoaledi issued a provisional designation of Bhisho airport as a port of entry so that the UAE president’s plane and entourage can land there. The chief is on a private visit to the Eastern Cape, where he owns a game farm.
The airport designation will expire on May 12.
A United Arab Emirates plane aboard Bulembu, Qonce William Township, Eastern Cape, April 26, 2023. (Photo: Hoseya Jubase)
Earlier this year, Eastern Cape MEC Xolile Nqatha, who was in charge of transport, policy speech In the provincial legislature, part of the airport is occupied by the South African Defense Force for the next three years.
“Furthermore, the ministry has also approached the government of the United Arab Emirates as an additional tenant of the airport and they will invest +- R50 million to upgrade the Bhisho airport as part of their late president H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zazak Yaed Al Nahyan. This investment will help drive the much-needed recovery of the province’s economy from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Later, Unathi Binqose, spokesman for the department, said Donate 20 million rand Renovate the airport. He then explained that there was no public procurement of contractors, it was organized and paid for by the UAE.
Binqose said they would hold an exit meeting at a future date to discuss the details, adding that the department would then explain what was done at the airport.
He said there was no written agreement for use or modification at the airport, but added that aviation experts from the department were on hand to ensure everything met South African standards.
“Everything will be revealed in due course,” he said. “As we say, we have to quantify the work that is done there. We have a responsibility to tell the public exactly what was done and by whom.
“We will have an exit meeting with them. The airport is not taken over by the UAE. There are people who are permanently employed there.”
Last Friday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni attended a press conference Responsible for Motsoaledi, Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza, Police Minister Bheki Cele, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, Defense Minister Thandi Modise, Eastern Cape Acting Prime Minister Xolile Nqatha – who is also the province’s Transport MEC – and Cassius Sinthumule, Air Transport Mode The South African Revenue Service, responsible for the airport.
At the briefing, Ntshavheni said there had been “a series of hints” that there had been some misconduct in the Eastern Cape’s preparations for “the visit of a distinguished guest”.
She added that South Africa’s preparations are in line with internationally accepted rules for hosting heads of state or government and other dignitaries on a reciprocal basis. DM/MC
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