Deep concern over rise in plane crashes around Cape Town

The DA in the Western Cape (WC) has expressed “deep concern” about the increasing number of plane crashes around the Cape Town area with the latest reported accident happening just two weeks ago.

The safety and security of local communities is naturally of paramount importance, and the DA said in a statement today that this pressing issue cannot be ignored.

“The increase in plane crashes, some of which have been fatal, poses an imminent threat to our communities, and this is not a matter we can take lightly. We must take decisive action to mitigate these risks,” the statement said.

Several plane crashes in the region have included a light aircraft making a daring emergency landing ON the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West in June 2022; and another light aircraft crashing later that month near Lower Crossroads, a township near Cape Town International Airport. (The occupants, from a local aviation school, survived the crash but were robbed by local residents.) Most recently (two weeks ago) two pilots were injured when their light aircraft crashed near the Kraaifontein sewage plant.

DA WC spokesperson on mobility, Derrick America, said today:

“To address this matter with urgency, I will invite the South African Civil Aviation Authority and all relevant aviation industry stakeholders to appear before the Western Cape Parliament’s Standing Committee on Mobility. We need to understand their strategies to prevent the prevalence of plane crashes in the Cape Town metro and surrounds, particularly with the recent proliferation of flying schools in the region.”

Members of the public will also be invited to share their concerns and insights into developing a solution.

“We urge the aviation authority to share their findings and plans to ensure the utmost safety of the aviation industry. It is not enough to simply identify the risks; we must take concrete steps to address them,” said America.

“We will closely monitor their progress and hold them accountable for their commitments to improving safety standards. The safety of our communities is a collective responsibility, and we must work together with the SACAA and all other stakeholders to achieve this, this is non-negotiable.”