Air Force Base not ready for 2010

The following is a rough translation from an article that  appeared in the Beeld newspaper:

Erika Gibson

The chances that AFB Waterkloof will be an official overflow airport for OR Tambo airport during the 2010 Soccer World Cup are getting smaller.

Problems with the acceptance of the restoration tender for the foundation of the Waterkloof runway has been ongoing since October 2006.

Many of the base units, including the VIP-squadron which flies President Thabo Mbeki's aircraft, moved over a year ago to Denel at OT Tambo in readiness for the reconstruction work to begin.

Meanwhile, the project costs have increased. Initial costs were about R90m, but by last year it had increased to more than R700m and the delay over the last six months means that it will probably cost millions of Rand more of taxpayer's money.

A source told Beeld that it is one of the largest construction projects to take place in the Defence Force in a long time, which is one of the reasons the Department of Public Works allowed certain additional extensions to the tenders.

These additions account for between 3% and 4% of the contract costs towards the decrease of unemployment. The unemployed must be in the service of the main contractor for the duration of the project.

After the construction work was due to commence in October 2006 and then delayed to March and then October last year because of a dispute over the awarding of the contract, a new tender was issued in January this year. The application for tenders closes this week and, according to the Defence Force, they have the assurance of the department that the contractors will begin in March - just a week later. Construction work will take at least 20 months, which means that if there are no further delays, it will be completed by November next year.

Waterkloof will be used during 2010 to house numerous aircraft. It is traditionally used by Heads of State, official delegations and other VIPs where specific security measures are not available at commercial airports.

This is how it was used for the visits to South Africa by Queen Elizabeth and ex-President Bill Clinton.

"The costs for the airforce are increasing by the day. The Defence Force must make representation for the money, which has been allocated to the project, to roll over from one financial year to the next, otherwise the unspent money will be declared unused.

"The airforce pay rental to Denel for use of their facilities for the VIP flights, while the increase in project fees must be found elsewhere in the Defence Force budget.

"The irony is that the airforce was ready from day one for the project and had to fall in with the extended dates without any consultation," Beeld was told.

The Department said earlier that no decision on the contract can be disclosed as it was 'in a sensitive stage'.