GAAL’S FINAL BETRAYAL: THE STOLEN ILS, THE SILENCED CEO, AND THE FALL OF LIMPOPO’S AIRPORT

By Mpho Dube | Editor‑in‑Chief, The Azanian

23 December 2025 — Johannesburg

The people of Limpopo are waking up to a bitter truth: their province, which gave the African National Congress a landslide 74 % victory in the last elections and remains the majority administrative government, is being stripped of its lifeline while a rival DA‑led province reaps the benefits.

The scandal revolves around the decommissioning and illegal donation of Polokwane International Airport’s Instrument Landing System (ILS), a R30 million asset purchased in 2005, and the subsequent silence of Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL) officials who have refused to answer for their actions.

The story begins with a confidential letter dated 8 July 2025, signed by GAAL’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. M. Matli, addressed to Mr. Justice R Baloyi, Manager: Technical Services at Eastgate Office Park. The letter, titled “REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE DICOMMISSIONED POLOKWANE ILS PARTS TO ATNS CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,” explicitly confirms that GAAL will donate the decommissioned ILS parts to Cape Town International Airport to assist the DA‑led province in sustaining its operations.

The correspondence acknowledges receipt of a request for the donation and expresses GAAL’s commitment to supporting Cape Town’s efforts, thereby exposing a premeditated decision to transfer valuable equipment from Limpopo to a politically opposed province without public or parliamentary oversight.

Investigations by The Azanian reveal that the ILS was fully functional until 2024, yet GAAL deliberately decommissioned it, writing it off at a book value of R1.5 million and planning its removal without any technical justification or transparent process.

Sources inside the airport confirm there was no technical failure or malfunction that warranted the dismantling of the system, suggesting the move was driven by political favoritism rather than operational necessity. The donated parts were intended to enhance Cape Town’s aviation infrastructure while leaving Polokwane unable to land aircraft safely in rain, fog, or darkness, crippling the province’s economic and emergency services.

When The Azanian sent detailed questions earlier to GAAL CEO Mokgadi Matli and spokesperson Tshepo Ramokgopa on 12 December 2025 seeking clarification on the decision‑making process, the procurement irregularities, and the technical assessments, both officials responded with selective silence.

Matli chose to answer only unrelated queries and ignored direct questions about the technical report, the assessing company’s qualifications, and the approval process for the donation. Ramokgopa also failed to provide any substantive response, leaving the public without answers regarding the asset register, Treasury involvement, or the legal basis for transferring state property to another province.

The consequences of GAAL’s actions are severe. Limpopo’s economy, poised to attract R170 billion in investments focused on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, and infrastructure, is now threatened by an airport that cannot safely accommodate flights.

Premier Phophi Ramathuba condemned the mismanagement in a speech at the Limpopo Ka Dezemba Tourism Launch on 21 November 2025, stating, “If we give you a job and you fail to do it, then you are not worth it,” and warning that the dysfunctional airport jeopardises investor confidence and business partnerships essential for provincial growth.

She urged GAAL to “pull up their socks or move aside” and allow more competent entities to manage the airport, emphasising that the province’s majority ANC voters deserve better service from their own government.

The political dimension of the scandal is stark. Limpopo, an ANC stronghold with 74 % electoral support, is suffering while its assets are diverted to a DA‑led province, Cape Town, highlighting an apparent political vendetta against the majority administrative government.

Critics argue that GAAL’s actions violate the Public Finance Management Act and constitute theft of public resources, undermining the democratic mandate of the Limpopo electorate.

The public calls for immediate and decisive action: the suspension of CEO Mokgadi Matli pending criminal and forensic investigations; the publication of all technical reports, asset registers, and memoranda related to the ILS; the return of the ILS to Polokwane or full replacement funded by GAAL; and criminal charges against executives for theft, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

The Azanian also supports Premier Ramathuba’s demand for accountability and urges parliamentary hearings to scrutinise GAAL’s board and its politically motivated decisions.

This scandal is not merely an aviation issue; it is a betrayal of public trust, an assault on a province’s economic future, and a blatant example of political favoritism that punishes loyal voters. The Azanian will continue to expose the truth, hold power to account, and fight for the rights of Limpopo’s people to receive the services and infrastructure they deserve.