... but says little about cargo security upgrades
Alan Peat
SECURITY AT the Johannesburg International Airport has just been jacked up, according to the Airports Company of SA (ACSA), with the recent introduction of "Operation Octopus".
One primary focus of this new security strategy appears to be significantly increasing the police presence at the airport, but ACSA also said: "The exercise will be intelligence-driven".
A joint operations committee at JIA will oversee this security project comprising representatives from SA Police Services; ACSA; SA Revenue Services; Civil Aviation Authority; Metro Police; Department of Home Affairs; and various intelligence agencies.
A further link in the command chain is ACSAÕs local airports security committee which meets monthly at each airport to review security in detail.
Anything not resolved at airport level, FTW was told, is taken to the National Aviation Security Committee which meets once a quarter. This committee has ministerial access and is chaired by the Commissioner of Civil Aviation. It consists of high-level representatives from the SAPS, ACSA, the intelligence community and other role-players.
But the question being asked by our readers is not being answered. Following two big-value armed heists at the airport, FTW had a stream of complaints about the "utterly non-existent" security surrounding the cargo section of the airport. This included KLM Cargo in Amsterdam calling for police and army involvement if ACSA efforts proved ineffective.
However, despite repeated questioning, we have been unable to get a direct senior response on the matter from ACSA.
The nearest we have got to any confirmation that cargo security is also being up-graded was the rather bland statement that "Operation Octopus will not unduly interfere with day-to-day functioning of the airport.
"It will, however, include patrolling all airport areas, searching suspicious goods and persons as well ensuring that all gaps which may exist are closed immediately."
All the other information in the ACSA releases on the heightened security referred to such crimes as "motor vehicle theft" (which has dropped 33% year-on-year) and "fraud through the use of forged identification documents" (down 37%). But no mention of "armed robbery" and "murder".
The only other areas of the security upgrade outlined were a new R3.5-million, computer-based security training programme for security officers, and an investment in the latest in passenger screening equipment.
FTW has also been unable to confirm whether there has been any consultation with airport users and associated airfreight operations or bodies, all of which are now expressing dissatisfaction with security matters at JIA.
Operation Octopus will involve patrolling all airport areas and searching all suspicious goods
