DA challenges Minister to conduct open visit of “fully operational” Centurion Aerospace Village 

18 September 2015

In a media statement released late yesterday, the Department of Trade and Industry claimed that the DA made “baseless allegations” relating to the use of public funds and the absence of buildings at the Centurion Aerospace Village (CAV), and that the CAV is in fact “fully operational”. This claim is not only false, but in fact borders on comical.

The DA yesterday held a press conference outside the site of the CAV, revealing a forensic report which shows that almost R100 million of public funds was squandered on developing this non-existent aerospace village. 

All that exists is a vacant plot of barren land and a few piles of sand. (See photos here and here)

I will therefore today write to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, challenging him to put his money where his mouth is and conduct an open visit of the so-called “fully operational” Centurion Aerospace Village. Minister Davies must show the public where the buildings are, where the jobs that have been created are, and where the R95 million of taxpayers’ money has actually been spent. 

It is quite clear that there is nothing “fully operational” to see. Rather, the site is just another monument of corruption and empty job promises delivered by the ANC government. 

Statement issued by Patrick Atkinson MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Economic Development, September 18 2015