The South African Police Service (SAPS) has given its undertaking to identify security shortcomings at OR Tambo International Airport and will implement preventative measures.
“Although this incident is regrettable, and unfortunate, the SAPS and all role players are compelled to continuously review security measures aimed at curbing the recurrence of an incident of this nature,” said acting national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane during a media briefing yesterday afternoon (Thursday).
The briefing followed the armed robbery at the airport on Tuesday evening where some estimates claim that more than R20 million in foreign currency was stolen from the cargo area.
The Airports Company South Africa, which manages the airport, has also stepped up security measures.
Phahlane confirmed rumours that the vehicles used to commit the armed robbery were bogus police cars. He said the two cars had been found abandoned in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, on Wednesday.
An “intensive and multi-disciplinary investigation process” was underway and an investigative task team – comprising Crime Intelligence, the Hawks and SAPS detectives – was working around the clock on the case, he added.
“We will investigate and arrest objectively and should we find evidence of any type of police or other collusion we will take decisive action. If bona fide uniforms or equipment were used by the suspects, the source of those uniforms or equipment will also be part of the investigations,” said Phahlane.
Eye Witness News cited the Air Cargo Operators Committee’s Alwyn Rautenbach as saying that this was not an isolated incident and that at least six such incidents had been recorded last year alone.
Meanwhile Acsa CEO Bongani Maseko pointed out that companies dealing with the handling of valuable cargo at airports should have their own security measures in place apart from that provided by SAPS and Acsa.
