Polokwane International Airport was relaunched this October to great acclaim, with the new building positioning the airport not only for increased traffic during 2010 but also for the wider SADC region in the years ahead.

The new state-of-the-art terminal building, which was unveiled by transport MEC Justice Pitso, will help to transform Limpopo into a new gateway for southern Africa, as the airport is positioned for key traffic between SADC countries.

“The Polokwane International Airport will not only serve our country, but also the entire Southern African Development Community,” said Pitso at the launch.

“The Department has spent R46 million towards this venture with the view of ensuring that our air transport system is enhanced in a manner that will provide better service during 2010 and beyond,” said Pitso.

The upgraded airport will now be able to handle 200,000 passengers a year, four times the capacity of the old building, while the area outside the terminal will also be adapted with dedicated parking for the general public, passenger pick-up and various drop-off zones.

The launch of the airport was a celebration comprising not only transport MEC Justice Pitso, but also the Director General of National Transport Mphumi Mphofu, AASA’s Chris Zweiginthal with entertainment from the ZCC Brass Band, and the Pedi and Vendi choirs.

“As years go by, generations that will come after us will look at the upgrading of this terminal building as one of the building blocks of the process geared at enhancing economic activity in Limpopo,” Pitso added.

Polokwane is one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the airport is a key development in the city’s plans for the event.

It was also reported at the launch that the construction of the new stadium in Polokwane for 2010 is well underway.                               

Mphumi Mphofu, Director
General of National Transport

"We will be going all out to woo investors, both domestic and foreign so that they can come and join hands with us, the infrastructure that we are putting in place will be reason enough for those who want to join hands with us in our endeavour to grow the economy and create decent and sustainable jobs," said Pitso.

For more information about Polokwane International Airport and the various investment opportunities available, please contact:

Name: Sipho Mthombeni
Tel: 015 288 0122
Email: siphogm@gmail.com