LEONARD NEILL ESSENTIAL CHANGES to airport and aviation security in South Africa, as well as upgrades to the country’s maritime and rail environments are on the cards, says Transport Minister Jeff Radebe. Plans will be presented to government for approval and financial backing, says Radebe. While these have been drawn up by an investigating team and are ready for implementation, the recent London bombings have highlighted the need for action to be taken on a national scale, he said. “Good progress is being made in addressing the situation in this country in the matter of beefed-up security, and while we have no reason for alarm in our own system, complacency is definitely not an option.” The multiplicity of structures across the transport system was of concern, he said. It is an extremely complex environment which requires the proactive participation of a number of different government departments and agencies. Business entities also need to play their role. Accepting that there has been criticism of the standard of security in vital transport sectors, especially at major airports, Radebe said that SA was developing an approach to security in all transport sectors that aims at rationalising responsibilities, clarifying the role of different agencies, and creating accountable processes and procedures.
