Latest news with #ACSA
10-07-2025
- Business
Japan, New Zealand to Begin ACSA Talks
News from Japan Politics Jul 10, 2025 19:26 (JST) Kuala Lumpur, July 10 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, met in Malaysia on Thursday and agreed to start negotiations for the conclusion of an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, between their countries. The ACSA, if concluded, would allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the New Zealand military to exchange fuel and ammunition. The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including Pacific island countries where China has been trying to expand its influence, and agreed to strengthen ties among allies and like-minded nations. They confirmed that their countries will further expand cooperation in the economic field, including under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Legal battle stalls for South African BEE firm amid IDEMIA acquisition talks
However, shortly after clinching the deal, the two parties fell out with IDEMIA withdrawing INFOVERGE as their local partner. INFOVERGE then challenged this, resulting in the contract being cancelled by ACSA and INFOVERGE subsequently suing IDEMIA for R115 million in damages over their losses. The case involves a R115 million biometrics tender awarded by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) to French firm IDEMIA two years ago with local BEE firm, INFOVERGE being given 30% of the contract. Following months of a protracted legal battle, the matter has now stalled, explains INFOVERGE CEO, Musa Mahlaba when approached for an update on their legal challenge. "We've been told that the South African arm of IDEMIA is under acquisition of sorts. We've been trying to get some clarity on this but they have not been forthcoming and have not responded, which leaves our legal matter in some kind of limbo as we wait. We have been advised to give it some time before we decide what options we pursue," he told IOL. IDEMIA also failed to respond to an IOL query on the matter. The fallout with ACSA also led to the suspension of ACSA's Chief Information Officer in 2024 amid allegations of wrongdoing in the tender process in which IDEMIA emerged as the winning bidder. The cancellation of the ACSA contract with IDEMIA also set off alarm bells over their other government tenders prompting Transport Minister, Barbara Creesy, to question another state contract awarded to IDEMIA - a whopping R486 million contract for the country's driving licence machine. Following an investigation into that, an AG report found that IDEMIA failed to meet key bid requirements. This has led to the current impasse over that contract with the Department of Transport looking to cancel the IDEMIA contract. That matter is ongoing. IOL
IOL News
08-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Unpaid security guards plan picket at airports amid salary disputes
Passengers at OR Tambo International Airport experienced chaos on Tuesday as they faced significant delays at security checkpoints, prompting widespread frustration and confusion. However, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has categorically denied claims that these disruptions were linked to the non-payment of security contractors. Image: File Scores of security guards previously employed by Venus International Security to man some of the country's airports have threatened to picket at the affected airports after they were not paid their June salaries and severance packages by the security company, which was contracted by the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA). This comes as ACSA has denied that the long lines at some of its airports, including at the OR Tambo International Airport this week, were caused by the non-payment of security contractors. It is reported that more than 200 former Venus International Security guards, who also now find themselves without jobs in Bloemfontein, Upington, and Kimberly, have also not been considered for the insourcing process currently undertaken by the airports company, leaving many of them disillusioned. On Tuesday, passengers at OR Tambo International Airport faced significant delays reportedly due to what ACSA described as operational disruptions at airport security checkpoints. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Next Stay Close ✕ However, according to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), in the Northern Cape the failure by Venus to address the matter while removing its assets at four major airports, including the Kimberly, Upington, and Bloemfontein, while workers' salaries have not been paid is deeply concerning, which is why the union has written to ACSA to resolve the matter. "It has come to our attention that Venus is busy removing all company belongings from all ACSA properties. The company is doing this firstly without making sure workers have been paid what is owed to them. "As Numsa, we are going to take the following steps if monies are not released before the close of business. We are going to picket at all airports in Kimberly, Bloemfontein, and Upington. We will also urgently interdict everything, including Venus's bank accounts. ACSA is Cced above to rebut these claims," said Numsa regional representative, Elliot Mohatlhane, on Sunday. Mohatlhane has also slammed Venus for its failure to pay workers what is due to them, saying:" If all our engagements with ACSA and Venus fail, we will be forced to picket at some of the airports as ACSA has also failed to insource our workers who are already familiar with the aviation industry," he said. Machine Hlongwane and Hendrick Kekana, from Venus International Security, blamed ACSA for the non-payment of their workers following an unfulfilled promise by the airports company. "Venus International is unable to pay salaries for June 2025. This is because ACSA had promised to pay Venus a specific settlement amount on 30 June 2025. We are still waiting for ACSA to make good on its promise. Whereafter, we will pass the amounts due to our former employees. We urge workers to be patient while we are still waiting for ACSA to keep the promise made to Venus," Kekana said. A Venus employee, who did not want to be named, revealed that the alleged non-payment by ACSA has affected their livelihoods, adding that the insourcing of workers has not been fair, as most of them were not considered. "We don't know where the problem lies because we, as Venus employees, were notified that the contract is coming to an end on the 30th of June 2025 between ACSA and Venus. We were supposed to receive our June salaries from our employer, but we don't know why at this stage we didn't get our salaries, and no one is talking to us about why we didn't get our salaries," he said. With the termination of the Venus contract, ACSA said it considers the Venus matter closed as their agreement has come to an end, as the insourcing of employees gets under way. "The operational challenges encountered on Tuesday, 1 July 2025, at OR Tambo International Airport are not related to the alleged non-payment of contractors by ACSA. Venus International is a recognised contractor with ACSA, with whom our contractual relationship ended on 30 June 2025. "Annual increments that accrued to Venus International at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic were due to the service provider, and following extensive mediated talks, the two contracting parties settled. We now consider that matter closed as ACSA is implementing a new sourcing strategy at all ACSA Airports," the entity stated.
The South African
02-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
SAA's wings in full flight - and profitable!
Following several challenging years, State-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA), is now in a position to contribute economic value. This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the departmental Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning. SAA was racked by allegations of fraud and corruption during the State capture years. It was put under business rescue and grounded but has recovered to fly domestic, continental and international flights. 'With unencumbered assets and renewed profitability, SAA is well-positioned to drive economic value through expanded international services, job creation, and increased contributions to tourism and trade,' Creecy said. Furthermore, the airline is now contributing to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 'According to [an Oxford Economics Africa] study, SAA contributed R9.1 billion to South Africa's GDP in 2023/24, a figure projected to more than triple to R32.6 billion by 2029/2030. Over the same period, the airline's operations are expected to support 86 700 jobs, up from the current 25 000, demonstrating its growing role as a national employer and economic catalyst. 'The airline has concluded three out of four outstanding audits and reported a profit of R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year for the first time since 2012. Now operating independently and no longer reliant on government guarantees, SAA is self-funding its operations and fleet growth, while remaining open to a strategic equity partner as part of its long-term restructuring,' the Minister highlighted. Creecy revealed that the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has been allocated some R21.7 billion for infrastructure development. '[This is] in order to meet our target of moving 42 million passengers per year and increasing air freight handling through the ACSA network of airports. This will improve facilities for passenger safety and comfort over the medium-term and build a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport. 'In addition, we are fast tracking projects to ensure reliable availability of jet fuel to all airlines at all our airports, as well as the general upkeep and upgrading of facilities and technologies at each of our airports to improve both security of passengers and cargo, as well as convenience of airport users,' she said. Creecy told Parliament that the state of roads in South Africa remains an important issue that the department is concerned about, with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) taking over some 3 099 kilometers of provincial roads over the past year. 'Over the period of the MTDP [Medium-Term Development Plan] and beyond, SANRAL has reprioritised within the existing maintenance and capital allocated funding so that these roads are serviced through the Route Road Maintenance Programme,' she said. Creecy also revealed that the driver's licence printing machine is now back in operation. 'The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards. To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed a MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver's licence cards,' she said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
02-07-2025
- The South African
Travel turbulence: Travellers encounter long queues at OR Tambo
Travellers at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport were caught in long queues on Tuesday, 1 July, following changes to security checkpoint procedures. As reported by TimesLive , the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) acknowledged what it called 'operational disruptions' and said it was working to restore normal service levels. By late Tuesday, ACSA reported that domestic operations had mostly stabilised, with additional staff deployed to support international passengers. Although ACSA confirmed that adjustments had been made at security checkpoints, it did not clarify what those changes involved. The disruptions, however, appear to be limited to OR Tambo, with no other airports affected. In the meantime, travellers have been urged to plan ahead. ACSA has advised that passengers arrive at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures. The airports company also emphasised the importance of heading straight to security screening after check-in to avoid further delays. While operations are expected to return to normal soon, passengers flying through OR Tambo this week should brace for potential hold-ups – and arrive early. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
