Hundreds of houses in the suburbs around OR Tambo International Airport could be expropriated if Airports Company SA (Acsa) goes ahead with plans to expand the facilities at the airport.
Acsa CEO Monhla Hlahla responded to concerns raised by Democratic Alliance MP Stuart Farrow on Wednesday during a meeting of Parliament's transport portfolio committee.
It was meeting to discuss the effect of the expansion on surrounding communities in Bonaero Park, Caro, Pomona and Impala Park. These are all suburbs of Ekurhuleni.
She stressed that the master plan to expand the airport to cater for the growth of passengers up to about 2020 was not cast in stone and was still theoretical.
However, she said that it was "highly likely" to go ahead and that discussions had already taken place with the Ekurhuleni metro council.
Acsa had also developed a communication plan to explain the master plan to the local communities, she said.
Hlahla said OR Tambo Airport was the biggest airline hub on the continent and there was a compelling argument to make it more efficient.
Farrow urged that the communities be involved in the decision from the beginning so that they were not presented with a fait accompli.
Acsa is forecasting revenue of R2,8 billion in 2007-08. The company is also predicting capital expenditure of R4,7 billion, of which R1,6bn is earmarked for La Mercy airport in KwaZuluNatal and R1,5 billion for OR Tambo's airport services.
Passenger numbers are expected, in the 2008 financial year, to grow 9% to 17,7-million, compared with the forecast of 16,2-million for this year, with domestic passenger numbers growing 11% and international numbers increasing 7%.
The airports company has budgeted for a tariff increase of 8,5%, though the regulator still has to decide on its application for a 9% increase.
Acsa's executive director of finance, Brooks Mparutsa, said that the company would meet the regulator on Monday to discuss the issue.
He said that the 9% was a small increase on airport tariffs, bearing in mind Acsa's capital expenditure programme.
