The Democratic Alliance (DA) today called for urgent action from Minister Barbara Creecy and her Department to address serious issues with air traffic navigation systems in South Africa. The political party insists that Minister Barbara Creecy and her Department pay urgent attention to these critical concerns affecting the nation's aviation infrastructure. Dr. Chris Hunsinger MP, DA Spokesperson on Transport, stated that "Reliable, trustworthy and safe commercial aviation is a cornerstone of a modern economy." He emphasized that visitors and business people require absolute confidence in safe aviation, or the economy and jobs would be at risk. Dr. Hunsinger added that "What Parliament heard today demands action from the Minister, who is the person responsible for leading these issues to conclusion." The DA confirmed it would hold Minister Creecy accountable for resolving air traffic navigation shortfalls and risks. This accountability extends to ensuring the long-term stability and efficiency of air travel within the country.
Safety Incidents and Staffing Shortages
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) has seen its serious safety incident rate exceed its own safety limit, a trend that has been consistently worsening since July 2025. This rise in incidents coincides with existing staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, impacting operational capacity. The steadily worsening trend in ATNS's serious safety incident rate since July 2025 is a cause for significant concern, indicating a systemic problem that requires immediate intervention. These staffing shortages among air traffic controllers directly affect the operational capacity of critical aviation services.
At OR Tambo International Airport's approach control unit, staffing levels currently stand at just 57% of the targeted requirement. These critical shortfalls contribute to disruptions and delays affecting numerous flights across the country. The issues are contributing to disruptions and delays to numerous flights, creating significant inconvenience for passengers and airlines alike. The ongoing issues place unnecessary pressure on South Africa’s aviation sector, potentially affecting reliability and efficiency. This situation shows the urgent need for strategic interventions to bolster staffing levels and ensure the smooth functioning of air traffic control.
Aviation Sector Disruptions
Airlink previously issued warnings regarding the suspension of more than 200 instrument flight procedures following failures at Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS). These suspensions severely disrupted flights to and from Kruger Mpumalanga, Richards Bay, and Polokwane, particularly during periods of poor weather. The warning from Airlink noted the tangible impact of ATNS failures, which led to the suspension of over 200 instrument flight procedures. Such suspensions meant that flights to key regional destinations like Kruger Mpumalanga, Richards Bay, and Polokwane faced severe disruptions, particularly when adverse weather conditions necessitated reliance on these procedures. The impact of these disruptions extended across various routes, affecting operational consistency and passenger travel plans.
FlySafair has stated that air-traffic constraints are now a significant consideration in its operational planning. The airline indicated that these constraints, particularly those experienced at OR Tambo International Airport, have become a factor influencing the planning of its schedules and its strategy for future growth. The constraints, notably at OR Tambo International Airport, have become a decisive factor in how FlySafair plans its flight schedules and strategizes for future expansion. This suggests that the current limitations are affecting the broader development trajectory for some carriers within the South African aviation sector, hindering their ability to grow and serve more passengers.
Government Responsibility and Broader Concerns
The Democratic Alliance asserts that the responsibility for maintaining and upgrading South Africa's air traffic navigation systems ultimately rests with Minister Barbara Creecy and her Department. The DA emphasizes that the air traffic navigation systems ultimately fall to Minister Creecy and her Department of the national government to maintain and upgrade, noting the central role of the national government in this critical infrastructure. According to the DA, strategic and structural interventions are urgently required to address the serious weaknesses identified within the current air traffic navigation system. South Africa needs strategic and structural interventions to address these serious weaknesses, ensuring the safety and efficiency of its airspace. The political party also noted additional critical issues that fall under Minister Creecy's purview, including the reliable supply of aviation fuel and ensuring strong airport security. Issues around the reliable supply of fuel and airport security are also critical for Minister Creecy to take seriously, as they are integral components of a functional and secure aviation environment. These concerns show a broader array of challenges impacting the nation's aviation infrastructure.
Accountability and Next Steps
The DA will hold Minister Creecy to account for solving the issue of air traffic navigation shortfalls and risks, showing their commitment to ensuring a resolution. Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) has, however, disputed aspects of the claims made regarding the system failures and their impact. This dispute adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about the state of South Africa's air traffic management.
