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Call Us:-011 403 2313
Call Us:-011 403 2313
Thursday, 23 January 2025.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the recent chaos at Cape Town International Airport which paralysed flights, left passengers stranded, and triggered a cascade of disruptions at airports across the country. This can only be characterised as a national embarrassment that warrants urgent action and accountability.
The chaos is said to be as a result of a fuel pump failure whose ripple effects were felt nationwide, with grounded flights and widespread delays at other airports, demonstrating how a single point of failure in our aviation system can spiral into national chaos. Passengers at Cape Town International Airport missed connecting flights, incurred financial losses, and endured immeasurable personal disruptions due to airlines unable to operate as a result of this catastrophic mismanagement.
This incident is more than an operational inconvenience—it is a stark security risk. That such a large-scale disruption occurred highlights how unprepared the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and other aviation authorities are to respond to crises. Moreover, it comes on the heels of a series of aviation failures, marked by relentless cancellations and delays at East London Airport, ongoing legal battles between airlines, the courts, and the department over non-compliance, and recurring technical failures that have grounded airlines and exposed systemic incompetence.
This fiasco, therefore, highlights the glaring vulnerabilities in South African aviation and exposes the inadequacy of SACAA to manage and prevent such crises. A breakdown in the airport’s ability to facilitate essential operations represents a broader pattern of systemic failure that calls into question the leadership and governance of SACAA and the Department of Transport.
As South Africans we demand answers, and accountability must be swift and transparent. SACAA owes it to the public to release a comprehensive report on this incident and its ripple effects, as well as an immediate plan of action to restore trust and ensure operational continuity. This shameful lack of preparedness must be addressed before it leads to a more severe catastrophe.
As the EFF, we will not stand by while mismanagement and incompetence in the aviation sector threatens the economic and personal well-being of South Africans. This latest incident must be the last. Any further failures will signal not only the clumsiness of SACAA but also the failure of leadership in the Department of Transport.
The EFF demands decisive and immediate measures to professionalise operations, upgrade infrastructure, and ensure that South African aviation can compete on the global stage without compromising passenger safety and national security.
ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Leigh-Ann Mathys (National Spokesperson) 082 304 7572
Thato Lebyane (Media Enquiries) 078 304 7572