Submission to the Defence Portfolio Committee on the maintenance of State facilities utilised by the Department of Defence
Date: 5 April 2005The following are extracts from documents handed in at the above meeting held on 5 April 2005:
Appendix A: Funds required in order to address the Deteriorating Condition of State Facilities Utilized by the DOD
RUNWAYS
The Department of Defence (SAAF) currently utilises 9 main runways and several forward airfields. The replacement value of these runways, taxiways and parking areas equals R8.5 billion.
The cost estimates to address emergency repairs and the rebuilding of certain runways is mentioned hereunder:-
5.1. South African Air force Runways: Pavement Management System:
Currently no mechanism exists in the SAAF to assess the overall pavement condition and to implement proactive maintenance interventions.
Due to the afore-mentioned situation the DoD has requested the NDPW in February 2005 to assist with the implementation of a pavement management system on 6 of the 9 main runways. The DoD (SAAF) has made and amount of R885 400 per annum available to undertake the required investigations.
5.2. Waterkloof Air force Base: Rebuilding of main and secondary runway
Due to the increase in usage, the pavement, over time becomes structurally incapable of withstanding heavy loading from large aircrafts currently utilising the facility. Severe rutting and cracking are a visual manifestation of this lack of sufficient capacity.
Even though corrective measures to the value of R16.1 million have been undertaken during 2004/2005, the engineers have indicated that usage of the runway should exclude all medium to heavy wide bodied aircraft. The DoD was advised of these findings on 7 March 2005.
The cost estimate to rebuild the main and secondary runway to address the afore-mentioned problems, spread over four financial years is as follows:-
2005/2006 R 14 770 655.00
2006/2007 R 93 108 373.00
2007/2008 R 10 490 185.00
TOTAL R124 599 163.00
5.3. Ysterplaat Air force Base: Rebuilding of main runway
The cost estimate to rebuild the main runway spread over three financial years is as follows:-
2005/2006 R 5536917
2006/2007 R 27 963 852
2007/2008 R 1 772 040
TOTAL R 35 272 809
5.4 Hoedspruit Airforce Base: Runways and Taxiways
Status quo reports were completed in October 2004 and forwarded to the DoD for prioritisation and confirmation of funding purposes.
The cost to repair and maintain is estimated at R51 764 075.
5.5. Bredasdorp: Overberg Air force Base: Runways
Status quo reports were completed in October 2004 and forwarded to the DoD for prioritisation and confirmation of funding purposes.
The cost to repair and maintain is estimated at R22 950 654.
Appendix B: Overview of cases of base conversion or co-use under management by the DoD and the DPW
Ser | Status | Service | Location of Base/Facility | Use prior to conversion | Reason for conversion | Implecations of conversion | Process |
1 | F/C | Air Force | Air Force weapons range | Air Force weapons range | Reduction in number of SAAF weapon ranges | No community or personnel implications. Saving of R1,5m per annum. | Closed 1995 Forwarded to DPW 12 March 1997. |
2 | C/U | Air Force | Western Cape - AFB Ysterplaat | Flying base | Consolidation of activities at Bredasdorp, Cape Town International, Langebaanweg and Pretoria | Community - availability of base for city airport. Initial investment to be made at other bases R75m. Long term savings R50m per annum. Approx 600 personnel redeployed at other Western Cape bases, approx 200 offered employer-initiated packages. | Initially investigated for co-use. Thereafter full closure was considered. Currently use for presidential flights still being considered. Therefore, comprehensive co-use or conversion options still open and being considered. |
7 | F/C | Air Force | Gauteng - Devon | Air Defence radar reporting and control post | Made redundant by newer technology and air defence concepts. | Withdrawal of approx 500 personnel from local economy. Personnel mostly redeployed to Hoedspruit. | Physically handed to DPW 31 December 1998 |
8 | P/C | Air Force | Gauteng - Pretoria - AFB Swartkop | Flying and support units, SAAF Museum | Consolidate flying and support units in AFB Waterkloof | Saving of R30m per annum. National aviation heritage site becomes accessible to public. Most personnel redeployed at AFB Waterkloof, supernumeraries took voluntary severance packages. | 17 Squadron still to be transferred to AFB Waterkloof. Made visible to DPW for inclusion in conversion program. SAAF Museum to remain. |
9 | C/U | Air Force | Gauteng - Pretoria - AFB Waterkloof | Still in use | Co-use of certain portions considered for related activities to reduce maintenance costs | Community would resist any co-use options with higher impact on society. Income from leasing and some reduction in maintenance cost | Submitted to DPW for co-use investigation |
17 | P/C | Air Force | Limpopo - Boston, part of AFB Hoedspruit | Training of SAAF Protection Service personnel | Reduction in training needs and not suitable for hard physical training | Saving of R5m per annum. Approx 50 SAAF personnel redeployed to other SAAF units. | Physically handed to DPW 15 December 1994 |
Key: | F/C | Full Conversion |
P/C | Partial conversion | |
C/U | Co-use |
Source: PMG