Alleged security breaches at JIA place tourism in jeopardy

“NUMEROUS (avoidable) breaches of security are taking place at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) on a daily basis. Even though these breaches are brought to the attention of the Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa), the e-mails are largely ignored and no follow-up takes place.” The above (verbatim) statement is from an extract of a letter sent by the Airline Operators' Committee (AOC) - which represents domestic and international airlines operating into South Africa - to Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar on Friday evening (October 25), appealing for him to intervene and instruct Acsa to comply with basic security standards. It was sent anonymously to TNN from a well-placed source in the airline industry who says a number of scheduled international airlines are threatening to withdraw services to SA if their security issues are not addressed. The letter, undersigned by Xavier Mahoney, chairman of AOC reads: "Clearly this deplorable state of affairs cannot continue. The risk to the South African economy, and the tourism industry, is just too great for us to ignore." It appeals to Omar to intervene and instruct Acsa to comply with basic security standards. "The real danger exists that if the situation continues, the foreign airlines will need to advise their respective governments to the effect that Johannesburg International presents a major security risk. The impact this can have on our tourism industry is just too vast to contemplate," continues the letter. A list of problems raised with Acsa, and which have either not been addressed or have not been satisfactorily addressed, according to members of the AOC, include: * Persons being allowed into the sterile airside area without a valid permit, or without being searched; * Security guards missing from posts or sleeping whilst on duty; * Doors, which should be locked, being left open or unattended; * Baggage pilferage in sterile areas; * Illegal immigrants entering South Africa, and * Failure to respond to alarms. TNN was unable to obtain comment from JIA airport manager, Bongani Maseko before publication as Maseko is in Rome, Italy for an Acsa board meeting. AOC expects the letter to be addressed at the meeting. The letter also states that it has the endorsement of the Airline Pilots Association of South Africa. (Adéle Mackenzie)