Heritage site at the edge of Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport shows visible decay
The South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum, situated behind Chief Dawid Stuurman Airport in Gqeberha, is facing growing concern as volunteers and heritage advocates warn that deteriorating infrastructure threatens both public safety and the preservation of historic artefacts.
Visitors and staff at the museum, which traces its roots to 42 Air School and the World War II era, have reported a range of structural problems. Observed defects include broken windows, cracked walls, corroded metal structures and large hangar doors described as being on the brink of collapse. Those who work at the facility say the state of repair places people and the collection at risk.
“The exhibits and the buildings tell the story of the SAAF, but the fabric of the site is failing,” said representatives of the Friends of the SAAF Museum, who have raised alarm over the lack of maintenance.
Historic site with wartime origins
The site dates back to the 1940s when it formed part of 42 Air School. The main building served as a training facility for air force gunners under a joint training scheme between the SAAF and the Royal Air Force during World War II. The museum’s main exhibition hall remains known as the Gunnery Building.
After the war the property passed to the municipality and was later acquired by Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) as part of intended airport expansion plans that did not proceed. In the early 1990s the site was leased to the SAAF and the museum was officially opened in 1992.
Maintenance disputed; Acsa says work under way
The volunteer group Friends of the SAAF Museum has publicly criticised what it describes as a prolonged absence of adequate maintenance. The group highlighted the condition of buildings and heavy doors as a potential danger to visitors and to the collection of aircraft and related artefacts.
Acsa, the landlord of the site, responded that it had recently carried out necessary maintenance on the structures and that further work is planned. The statement indicates some interventions have been made, but it did not specify the scope, cost or timetable for the additional repairs.
Risk to people and to artefacts
The combination of ageing buildings and metalwork exposed to coastal conditions increases vulnerability to corrosion and structural failure. Volunteers who keep the museum operational expressed concern for both the safety of staff and visitors and for the long-term condition of the collection.
- Visible defects: broken windows, cracked walls, corroded metal, unstable hangar doors.
- Historical value: site linked to World War II training at 42 Air School; Gunnery Building remains the main exhibition space.
- Ownership and responsibility: site owned by Acsa and leased to the SAAF; Friends of the SAAF Museum manage volunteer operations.
| Item | Reported condition |
|---|---|
| Windows | Broken |
| Walls | Cracked |
| Metal structures | Corroded |
| Hangar doors | Appearing near collapse |
The museum remains one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s lesser-known historic attractions, housing aircraft and material that document the country’s defence history and the role of air power. Its location on the outskirts of the airport and its wartime origins give it unique interpretive value for visitors and researchers.
Local cultural and heritage stakeholders will be watching for firm commitments from Acsa and the SAAF on a defined maintenance and preservation plan. For now, volunteers continue to keep the site open while urging clearer timelines and tangible repairs to secure both public safety and the museum’s collections.
Reporting note: Concerns were raised by the Friends of the SAAF Museum; Acsa confirmed recent maintenance and said additional work is planned.
