CEO of Gateway Airport to prove his credibility soon
Allegations by Cosatu that Gateway Airport Authority Limited (Gaal) chief executive officer Thulani Zulu's qualifications were fraudulent were denied by Zulu during an interview on Monday.
POLOKWANE – Allegations by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) that Gateway Airport Authority Limited (Gaal) chief executive officer Thulani Zulu’s qualifications were fraudulent were denied by Zulu during an interview on Monday.
Zulu said there was nothing wrong with his qualifications. “The public protector knows about the allegations and is investigating them,” Zulu said.
He explained that he had changed his surname from Manqele to that of his biological father, Zulu, a while ago.
This was the reason that his qualifications, including two university degrees, were in the name of Manqele, he said.
Review is in possession of copies of the documentation held by Cosatu that includes a personal credential verification by an independent institution. The verification was done in the surname of Zulu and not Manqele. His University of Zululand degrees, however, were in the name of Manqele.
During the interview with Zulu, he said after years of financial management, and human resources problems, Gaal was now back on track.
He said the board’s term had expired at the end of October and the minister of transport, Dipuo Peters, needed to be consulted by transport, security and liaison MEC Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana to appoint a new board.
Zulu said he was satisfied that the board, who was appointed in November 2013, helped to bring about the turn-around of the organisation.
“There are still some critical posts that need to be filled at Gaal, though. A chief financial officer (CFO) needs to be appointed permanently and a CFO was seconded from the office of the premier in the interim,” he said.
Gaal recruited a senior operations manager and only the final stages of the appointment needed to be concluded.
He added that the position of business and marketing manager was not budgeted for. One of the interim board’s successes, according to Zulu, was looking into the aeronautical fees charged at the airport and completing a benchmark exercise.
“They saw we were lagging and increased the fees. This will help to finance the financial turn-around, which is the most important thing for the airport,” he said.
Still scouting for new airlines to utilise the airport, Zulu said a new airline would commence with flights on November 11.
The airline, Majestic Air Charter, would start with return flights between Lanseria and Polokwane three times a week, being Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The group would also offer flights between Polokwane and Durban. fly directly to Durban from Polokwane.
He said Gaal approached South African Airways to grant them diversion rights and discussions were in an advanced stage.
“All aircraft coming from Europe have to fly over our airport. If there is congestion at OR Thambo, they are diverted to other airports such as Kimberley, Bloemfontein and even as far as Gaberone.
“We are an international airport and can assist with this function.”
