Cape Town International improves security

CAPE Town International Airport (CIA) is spending R6,7m to upgrade security following a rise in violent crimes at SA's international airports. CIA was hit by two armed robberies in February 2001 and December 2000, while Johannesburg International Airport and Durban's Virginia Airport have had similar problems, including an armed heist within the restricted apron area of JIA during which R64m worth of American dollar notes and jewellery were stolen. The Airports Company SA (ACSA) has responded with a "policy of zero tolerance" to be rolled out at all its airports by December. This includes physical security upgrades, stricter access control through a new colour-coded permit system, changing staff mindsets through an awareness campaign and setting up two state-of-the-art monitoring nerve-centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The cost of the national project forms part of ACSA's capital budget. Monwabisi said new security steps at CIA included the installation of 60 additional Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTV) and a modernised camera control room, increasing the number of police officers, improvements in perimeter fencing and access control, such as closing Michigan Road which links the airport to the adjoining industrial area. The airport was working with the Cape Town Unicity's law enforcement branch on an efficient crime fighting strategy. (Hilka Birns)