About

This application is proposing the phased redevelopment of the former Fisantekraal Airfield, located along the R312 and R304 near Durbanville, into a fully functional commercial airport capable of handling international long-haul, wide-body flights.

The development spans approximately 880 hectares and includes rezoning of +- 275 ha of agricultural land to Transport Zone (TR1) with permanent airport consent. The project will be implemented in phases, with Phase 1 targeting 1.7 to 2.5 million passengers by 2032 and Phase 2 aiming for 5.2 million passengers by 2050.

Key infrastructure upgrades include:

• road realignments (notably Mellish Road),
• zoning adjustments, and
• strategic land use planning to support future airport operations and access.

Concept design process

The concept design for Cape Winelands Airport (CWA) encompasses a multi-precinct, phased development aligned with international aviation standards. The process was led by NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants) and guided by ICAO Annexes and the IATA Airport Development Reference Manual.

Terminal Precinct (+- 57 ha)

• Includes a double-level Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) designed for 5.2 million passengers annually.
• Facilities: check-in, security, customs, immigration, retail, restaurants, hotels, aviation museum, cargo, droneport, vertiports and energy center.
• Consent required for uses such as ‘Airport’, ‘Hotel’, ‘Business Premises’ and ‘Service Station’.

Airside Precinct (+-249 ha)

• Secured area with a 3.5 km Code 4F runway for long-haul flights.
• Infrastructure includes aprons, CAT III ILS, RDTS, PAPI, lighting, substations and airside roads.
• Noise and obstacle assessments conducted.

General Aviation Precinct (±50 ha)

• Supports non-scheduled aviation (e.g., training, charters, firefighting, helicopters).
• Facilities: VIP terminal, heliport, FBOs, clubhouse, hangars, and retail.
• Modular development approach.
• Consent required for “Airport”, “Business Premises”, and “Place of Assembly”.

Services Precinct (±65 ha)

• Dedicated to operational support: ARFF (ICAO Cat 9), MRO, cargo, fuel depot, and renewable energy systems.
• Includes an Airport Operations Centre with police, clinic, and ATC.
• Consent required for “Airport”.

Agricultural Precinct (±443.6 ha)

• Preserved for farming, wetland rehabilitation, and conservation.
• No airport-related development; access remains via R304.
• CWA is a member of the Durbanville Farmers Association.

Site specific circumstances

The proposed CWA development deviates from the City’s Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF 2023) in three key ways:

Urban Development Edge (UDE):

Parts of the runway and landside infrastructure extend beyond the current UDE.

Agricultural and Discouraged Growth Areas:

Some of the land outside the UDE is designated as having agricultural significance and is marked as a discouraged growth area.

Core Biodiversity Area:

A portion of the southeastern site lies within a designated Core Biodiversity Area.

Justification for Deviation:

The applicant argues that site-specific circumstances justify deviation from the MSDF, based on the following unique attributes of the site:

• Existing use for general aviation.
• Optimal elevation and slope (less than 1% over 4.2 km) aligned with prevailing winds.
• Not adjacent to nature reserves or densely built-up areas.
• Outside FACT controlled airspace and Koeberg UPZ exclusion zones.
• Direct access to municipal, provincial, and national infrastructure (road and rail).
• Existing zoning rights: 150 ha already zoned as Transport Zone (TR1) with airport consent.

These factors make the site uniquely suitable for a secondary commercial airport, balancing accessibility, minimizing urban disruption, and supporting regional connectivity. The proposal aligns with the principle of Spatial Justice under LUPA, as no other site within the MSDF area meets all these criteria while also having legal use rights in place.

Land Use Management (LUMS) Application

A land use planning application, including proposed consolidation, rezoning, consent approval, deletion of conditions and deviation was submitted for consideration in 2025.

Download the annexures (Zip file, 191 MB)

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