By OBAKENG MAJE
14 May 2025- The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West calls on the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to probe the alleged illegal activities taking place at the Dr Dick Montshioa International Airport in Mahikeng. This comes after startling allegations that, foreign nationals, specifically Nigerians, have illegally occupied the aviation facilities at the airport.
The EFF provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said he is not surprised by these kinds of allegations because South Africa has incompetent and pitiable police intelligence. Babuile said two months ago, they embarked on an oversight visit at the airport and noticed infrequent activities, where planes were allegedly illegally landing.
“Remember, when it comes to police intelligence, we are very weak in South Africa, particularly in the North West. We actually embarked on an oversight visit two months ago at the airport and noticed that there were planes landing, which were not supposed to be at that airport.
“The department was not even aware of such activities. We were wondering as the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management that, who are these individuals, who authorised them and who are they working for and what kind of activities are they running,” he said.
Babuile further said, they want the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng to be held accountable. He added that they will engage with the police and ensure that a criminal case is opened against malefactors.
“Not long ago, there was illegal mining taking place in Stilfontein for months and our police intelligence could not even pick that up. So, we are vulnerable when it comes to police intelligence,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management, Freddy Sonakile said: “They have taken serious note of a video currently circulating on social media platforms.
“In the video, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, is seen confronting individuals allegedly occupying the GD Montshioa Airport in Mahikeng without authorisation and instructing them to vacate the premises.”
Sonakile said while they commend Morweng for his hands-on approach and visible oversight, the incident has raised deeply troubling questions that demand immediate investigation and full accountability. He said the committee has urgently written to Morweng to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter and to submit a comprehensive report outlining the facts, remedial actions and steps to prevent such breaches in future.
“The committee also noted that the GD Montshioa Airport is under 24-hour security surveillance provided by Eagle Eye Security and has a full-time Site Manager appointed to oversee operations.
“It is, therefore, wholly unacceptable and implausible to suggest that no one within the department or at the airport was aware of individuals occupying state property, allegedly without paying rent,” said Sonakile.
He said to assert ignorance in this case would be tantamount to attempting to pull wool over the public’s eyes. Sonakile said the committee will not accept vague explanations or deflections.
“The committee has requested a report from the department to account on whether is there an existence of an aviation school at the GD Montshioa Airport, whether any lease agreements exist with said individuals or entities and the role of the North West Department of Public Works and Roads as the custodian of government properties in this context.
“If there are no valid lease agreements and no rental income has been collected, while individuals have been utilising state property for free, then accountability must follow swiftly and decisively,” he said.
Sonakile said permitting unauthorised and rent-free occupation of government property not only undermines the rule of law, but opens the door to corruption, mismanagement and the erosion of public trust. He said the committee is clear and in the absence of firm and visible consequences, Morweng and his department will be left to fight fires every week.
“The time for soft approaches is over. The people of the North West deserve transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public assets,” said Sonakile.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management said its legal team requested it wait before engaging media in the matter.
The Guardian 