Property

Unique South African airport to be rebuilt

Daily Investor • 21 February 2026

The Pilanesberg Airport in the North West Province, which serves Sun City and other tourist attractions, is being rebuilt after a 2023 fire devastated it.

The airport opened in 1981, specifically built to provide direct access to the then-new Sun City Resort and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

Since then, it has become a gateway to the North West province and features a single asphalt runway that is approximately 2,750 meters long.

The runway can accommodate large wide-body aircraft, including the Boeing 747, to support international events at Sun City.

The airport utilizes a pilot-controlled lighting system, activated via radio clicks on frequency 118.40 MHz, for night landings.

It is uniquely positioned within an ancient alkaline volcanic crater, offering one of the most scenic approach paths in the country.

While it was previously managed by the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), it was handed back to the North West Provincial Government in 2011.

On Tuesday, 29 August 2023, disaster struck when a fire devastated the Pilanesberg International Airport.

Security personnel noticed smoke, and the fire was eventually traced to the top of a building near the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower.

The thatched roof of the main terminal building caught alight, causing it to collapse and the structure to be completely gutted by flames.

There were no fatalities or injuries. Two women working as air traffic controllers were the only ones inside the building at the time, and they managed to evacuate safely.

The main terminal building, the airport manager’s office, and the boardroom were destroyed in the fire.

It was a catastrophic event that effectively halted major commercial operations at the international airport.

The Pilanesberg Airport is getting rebuilt

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson announced plans to redevelop the fire-damaged airport.

He provided a look at how Pilanesberg Airport will look after Infrastructure South Africa prepares and packages the redevelopment project for implementation.

“After the devastating fire in 2023, the airport became a symbol of infrastructure vulnerability,” Macpherson said.

“It will soon become a symbol of renewal. It will restore connectivity, strengthen tourism, and unlock economic growth in the North West.”

Macpherson added that a modernised Pilanesberg Airport will attract investment, increase visitor numbers, and help create much-needed jobs across the province.

Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) also said revamping the Pilanesberg International Airport will create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the province.

Head of ISA Mameetse Masemola said they will partner with the Provincial Government’s Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.

They will provide technical support for project preparation and packaging for the airport rebuild, which is a key step in unlocking investment and implementation.

“The context of our entry point is the fact that we have to be working with the province to develop and package the project properly,” she said.

“This will ensure that we identify the funding pathways for this and make sure that it really serves as a catalyst for tourism growth.”