Security breach at OR Tambo International Airport: What it means for passenger safety
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While many South Africans have reacted with shock to news of a significant security breach at the busy OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, the SA Cabin Crew Association believes there is cause for concern.
IOL reported on Thursday that a passenger passed through security at O.R. Tambo International Airport carrying two training hand grenades in their checked baggage, which were only discovered upon arrival at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia.
In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that it "was formally notified of the incident by Ethiopian Airlines, in line with international aviation protocols, after the items were detected during reverse baggage screening upon arrival".
On Friday, president of the SA Cabin Crew Association, advocate Christopher Shabangu, told Newzroom Afrika that the OR Tambo International Airport is a national key point, and one expects the facility to be a secure place.
"One appreciates that the airport is quite big, airports generally are quite big, they are kilometers and kilometers of parameters around the airport. It is a national key point, therefore, we have to be concerned if someone can walk in, and check in. I would understand if they came in through other points because there are many other points where things can come in.
"They walked through security with two grenades ... it is a concern. What if that was just a test run by whoever was carrying those (grenades)? We have to be concerned. Security needs to be improved; it must be improved. If it's systems that need to be improved in terms of scanning systems, they need to be improved."
Shabangu said he initially thought it was a transit passenger who had passed through the OR Tambo International Airport, but still the passengers and luggage would need to be scanned thoroughly.
"If now this went through proper channels and people allowed it, that does not make any sense to us. We think security needs to be improved at the airport for the sake of the public, for the sake of the country as well.
On Friday, IOL reported that ACSA has announced its intention to terminate the services of Aviation Coordination Services (ACS), the third-party operator responsible for hold baggage screening at the OR Tambo International Airport.
ACSA confirmed that the breach occurred in the Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) area managed by ACS, and announced they have made the decision to terminate ACS's services on the grounds that ACS has no legal basis or contract to carry out HBS services.
"ACSA made the decision to terminate ACS's services on the grounds that ACS has no legal basis or contract to carry out HBS services. Moreover, ACS is operating contrary to public procurement legislation.
"Notwithstanding these legal issues, ACS is responsible for this lapse in security and has also accepted liability for the incident. Further, ACS instituted disciplinary proceedings against the employee responsible for the security breach."
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