Robbers cash in amid airport guards strike
30/10/09. Wonderboom international Airport. Picture: Damaris Helwig 30/10/09. Wonderboom international Airport. Picture: Damaris Helwig
Pretoria - Strike action by security guards at Wonderboom Airport has left a flight operator with a loss of between R80 000 and R90 000 after his flight school was robbed early on Friday.
The security guards embarked on a strike early last week, allegedly following a failure by the City of Tshwane to pay their salaries, leaving the entire airport with minimal security.
Usually 30 guards are on duty at the airport, but in the past week there have been no more than seven working there at a time.
The flight school operator, who asked to remain anonymous, said the thieves took desktop computers, laptops, overhead projectors, cameras and all the cables and fittings for the educational equipment.
The operator said he would sue for damages, and had to pay for new equipment himself.
“At this stage I just want to get back up and running.”
DA councillor Francois Bekker said: “Flight operators are furious… The concerns cited by these operators relate to aviation risks in general and the expensive aircraft as well as expensive equipment.”
The operator said fuel was often stolen from the aircraft and sometimes thieves even took parts of the aircraft.
“At Wonderboom Airport you cannot leave your aircraft outside. You have to lock it up in a hangar,” he said.
This strike comes after months of fuel shortages at the airport.
“If it is not a fuel shortage, there is a strike by security guards. If it is not a strike, we are paying for the most expensive fuel in the country,” the operator said, adding he had been building his business at the airport for 12 years.
The Pretoria News reported in August that a new fuel provider had not yet been employed because of tender delays.
A contract to supply aviation fuel between the Tshwane Metro and service provider EML Energy ended on July 31, and the tendering process to appoint a new contractor is still under consideration.
“The question that comes to mind is if anything at all is still functional at this airport considering the ongoing fuel crisis,” Bekker said.
He said there had been complaints about fuel shortages at the airport since 2010.
He added that the airport could be a “pocket of excellence” and a source of income if it was run properly.
Bekker suggested the city keep the property but contract an expert to run it more effectively.
“To continue on the present trajectory, we are seriously at risk of damaging the airport’s potential beyond the point of no return.”
He submitted an urgent motion at the monthly city council meeting in August, to no avail.
“This place is being run into the ground. Everyone is gatvol,” the operator said.
The City of Tshwane’s Blessing Manale promised to provide comment but had not yet done so by the time of publication.
Pretoria News