The airline industry is
calling for a dedicated
aviation security force
to be established
to address the ongoing
corruption and criminal
activities in and around OR
Tambo International Airport
(Ortia).
While ministerial
intervention has been
welcomed, CEO of the Board
of Airline Representatives of
South Africa (Barsa), June
Crawford, said the matter was
of “grave concern to African
and international airlines”.
“It is my view that until such
time as this is introduced,
significant improvements will
not be seen,” she said.
Minister of Police, Fikile
Mbalula, has established a
high-level task team – headed
up by a senior police officer
with the rank of Major
General – focused solely on
addressing
criminal
syndicates
targeting
Ortia users,
including
logistics
customers.
Mbalula
met the team
– comprising
crime
intelligence
officers,
forensic
investigators,
and the
specialist investigative unit
of the South African Police
Service (SAPS), the Hawks –
last week to “flesh out a master
plan for security” with all
government agencies within
the security cluster.
The minister has admitted
that the biggest
challenge
with crime at
the airport is
“corruption
and collusion”
where police
officers are in
cahoots with
criminals.
“An obvious
lack of police
command and
control has
been highly
concerning and
the ability to
effectively manage deployed
personnel will remain a major
challenge,” he conceded.
Chris Zwiegenthal, CEO
of the Airlines Association of
Southern Africa, commented
that while industry welcomed
the security measures, it was
not possible at this stage to
judge their effectiveness. “The
air cargo community will
support all efforts to combat
crime,” he added, noting
that collaboration between
the Airports Company
South Africa, the various
law enforcement agencies
deployed, and the cargo
community as a whole should
have the desired results.
Zwiegenthal said that crime
in the airfreight logistics chain
was “widespread”, pointing
out that these crimes often did
not stop in South Africa but
were carried over into other
countries that traded with
South Africa.
“Worldwide organised crime
seeks the weak point that
normally manifests through
corruption in a specific
country where criminals easily
get away with impunity. It
is thus important that the
problem is recognised at
ministerial level and action is
taken at this level as is the case
now,” he said.
A cargo operator based
at the airport told FTW on
condition of anonymity that he
was aware of the allegations of
insider involvement, pointing
to a specific incident in which
an SAPS captain was involved,
specifically in the cargo
robberies.
“To combat the current
crime situation many cargo
community members have
launched their own security
initiatives which are having
some success," he said.
It is important
that the problem
is recognised at
ministerial level and
action is taken at this
level.
– Chris Zwiegenthal
