ACSA gets flak for closure of access road

Ray Smuts THE AIRPORTS Company of South Africa's decision to permanently close a link road favoured by the freight community and step up security at Cape Town International Airport's Cargo Centre has elicited a good deal of muttering. Michigan Street, said to be a "crucial" link between Borcherds Quarry Road and Airport Industria - home to as many as 100 clearing and forwarding agents - is to be closed this month (June) for security reasons. ACSA stands indicted, by the Cape Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others, for not engaging in timely consultation with all relevant stakeholders, but the airport authority remains steadfast that notification was given as far back as June last year, in addition to several reportback meetings. On the other hand, Gavin Cooper, chairman of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) in Cape Town, welcomed the move while conceding initial communication between ACSA and his organisation had been lacking. "We cannot stand on one side and throw stones at ACSA over poor security and then not co-operate when they try and implement a security system. Yes, it will inconvenience some of our members and, yes, we all have other bright ideas as to how it should work but implementation is so far advanced it is not going to be ruled out now." The bottom line is that Michigan Street where ACSA has lost baggage trolleys valued at R600 000 this past year, will be closed to all traffic by July 1 at the latest, with the exception of vehicles from three car rental companies contracted to ACSA. Mid-July will see the introduction of a swipe access card system at the entrance to the Cargo Centre, exiting at the Customs building; in other words, only one entrance and one exit. Although the R140 per card cost - valid for three years rather than one following overtures by SAAFF - is not compulsory, the airport authority believes that cardholders will enjoy swifter access and departure than those without who will be required to enter details in a security book. (The card has to be reactivated once-yearly at a fee of R50) A proposal by SAAFF, that the R140 charge cover both Cargo Centre and Michigan Street access, was rejected by ACSA at a meeting between the parties on May 21.