Latest news with #DukePhahla
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
ACS refutes ACSA claims over OR Tambo grenade security breach
ACS said the grenades were mistakenly cleared due to outdated equipment. Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) has rejected Airports Company South Africa's (ACSA) claims after a man travelled to Ethiopia from OR Tambo International Airport with two deactivated grenades. The grim incident came to light when Ethiopian Airlines notified ACSA that a passenger who had departed from OR Tambo in Johannesburg was found with the training grenades during reverse hold baggage screening at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mistake This triggered an immediate urgent response with ACSA announcing its intention to terminate the services of ACS, the third-party operator responsible for hold baggage screening (HBS) at OR Tambo International Airport. ACS CEO Duke Phahla said the training items were mistakenly cleared due to outdated equipment at the airport. ALSO READ: Acsa loses appeal for control of baggage screening services at major airports Risk Phala said, contrary to ACSA's claims, it is not entitled to terminate the provision of services by ACS and accused the airport operator of blocking ACS from replacing HBS equipment at airports with more advanced and reliable screening technology, putting aviation security at risk. 'Had ACS been permitted to carry out the long-term HBS equipment upgrade and replacement, the security incident that took place on 25 May may well have been avoided. 'Our investigation found that the screener on duty was fully certified by the South African Civil Aviation Authority and the company that he worked for was appointed on the panel of security service providers and vetted by ACSA,' Phala said. Screener dismissed Phahla, the screener, had completed all required training, had passed recent assessments and had over ten years of screening experience. However, he said that due to the seriousness of the breach, the screener was immediately suspended and later dismissed following the outcome of a formal disciplinary process. 'While the investigation concluded that human error was the immediate cause of the incident, it is critical that it be viewed in the broader context of the long-standing obstruction, by ACSA, of ACS's efforts to replace the HBS equipment with more advanced and reliable screening technology'. Phala said ACS has 'zero tolerance to any form of security breach' and deems this incident to be gross negligence by the screener, which led to dismissal. NOW READ: Acsa wants a look over in fight over baggage screening services
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Court ruling secures baggage screening units for passengers at OR Tambo and King Shaka
Airline passengers can thank the courts for the replacement of four critical Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports. Image: Supplied Airline passengers can thank the courts for the replacement of four critical Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports. This is as a protracted legal dispute continues involving - the Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS), Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) - over who holds the mandate to provide check-in hold baggage screening (HBS) services at South African airports. The ACS said it had launched the legal action given the risk of service breakdown due to ageing screening infrastructure and manufacturer support withdrawal, which compelled it to seek urgent court relief in 2024 to allow it to replace four back-up Level 3 HBS units at OR Tambo and King Shaka. ACS in November obtained an order barring Acsa from implementing its insourcing decision or awarding any contracts under its tender that directed Acsa to allow ACS to replace the equipment; and ordered Sacaa to approve the replacement within five days. ACS CEO Duke Phahla said, 'We commend Sacaa's recognition of the urgency in replacing aged HBS equipment to ensure uninterrupted security operations at airports. We have always maintained that passenger safety and continuity must come first, and this step reflects that shared concern.' The matter stems from May 2023 when Acsa announced its intention to terminate ACS's long-standing role as the provider of HBS services and to insource the function and subsequently issued a R3.15 billion tender for the procurement of new baggage screening equipment opening the floodgate of legal suits amongst the parties. Following the Gauteng High Court granting for the replacement, Acsa said it contested the ACS's handling of baggage as it was in contravention of the Constitution (which states that all organs of state must engage in procurement that is fair and transparent), the ACSA Act, the Public Finance Management Act, which requires that all airport charges levied to passengers must be approved by a Regulating Committee. Acsa's manager for Communications, Sisa Majola, said in response to enquiries, "The charges currently being levied by ACS are not regulated. The next development in the proceedings will be the hearing of the appeal against the court's order to interdict Acsa from implementing its insourcing of Hold Baggage Screening and the procurement of the screening." Majola said it was crucial that the ACS has challenged Acsa's decision to insource/perform Hold Baggage Screening Services, and a court of law has not heard this matter, nor has ACS been confirmed as the entity entitled to render Hold Baggage Screening Services. Acsa confirmed it would comply with the back-up replacement court order and continue with the appeal, as it was granted leave to appeal by the High Court and would continue to defend the review proceedings. ACS's Phala said, 'While the legal process runs its course, our focus remains on ensuring uninterrupted, world-class baggage screening services for passengers and airlines. We remain committed to working co-operatively with Acsa, Sacaa and all stakeholders to safeguard operational integrity and uphold aviation security standards." In its response, Sacaa said there are no ongoing discussions between the Sacaa and ACS and that further determinations would have to be from court pronouncements.
eNCA
06-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
ACS works on upgrading baggage screening equipment
JOHANNESBURG - Airport Baggage screening machines have reached the end of their lifespan. This has left airports including OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports reliant on outdated systems. But a Gauteng High Court ruling has prevented a serious security and operational issue. The court has granted Aviation Coordination Services' (ACS) request to replace Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) machines. It follows a legal battle between ACS and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). In 2023, ACSA terminated ACS's baggage screening services intending to take over the service directly. The company went ahead with this even though it is the airline's responsibility to provide HBS services at airports. And ACS was legally mandated to manage HBS by the airports. ACS CEO, Duke Phahla, has welcomed the judgment. He says the dismissal of ACSA's appeal means ACS will now be allowed to replace the old HBS equipment which will ensure they continue to operate effectively. These machines improve threat detection, faster processing times but also reduce the burden on screeners, improve output, and reduce the risk of false alarms or missed detections. ACS says the upgrades will take about a month, with the work happening mostly outside peak hours to avoid disrupting passenger travel.
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Acsa loses appeal for control of baggage screening services at airports
Acsa wants to take control of baggage screening and has issued a R3.15 billion tender for it. The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) have suffered a legal blow in their battle with Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) to take control of baggage control screening. This comes after the Gauteng High Court dismissed the urgent appeal by Acsa and SACAA on Friday, which barred it from bidding for or purchasing baggage screening equipment. Judgment on airport equipment The court judgment by Jude Twala upholds the high court's order on 5 November 2024, requiring Acsa and SACAA to allow ACS to replace the relevant equipment at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports while a main review case is still before the courts. It confirmed that the critical replacement of old hold baggage screening (HBS) equipment may proceed at the international airports, which is needed to ensure public safety and airport efficiency. ALSO READ: Acsa interdicted from adjudicating and awarding R3bn tender Acsa baggage services In May 2023, Acsa announced plans to terminate ACS's more than two-decade role in providing baggage screening services. It said it intended to take over these services directly. Acsa argued that it was supposed to be responsible for the baggage services, and that ACS had been running the services without a formal tender, which means Acsa was in breach of the procurement rules for state-owned entities. However, ACS contends that the airline is responsible for providing HBS services at airports, with ACS legally mandated by the airlines to operate and manage the services. ACS appeal In response, ACS approached the courts to review and set aside Acsa's decision to insource HBS services, including issuing a R3.15 billion tender for HBS equipment and force SACAA to approve the replacement of four backup baggage screening equipment at OR Tambo and King Shaka airports. In November last year, the court ordered that SACAA must approve the replacement and allow the process to be completed within 10 days of the order being made. Acsa and SACAA then sought to suspend these directives through an appeal, arguing that they should not be enforced while broader legal proceedings, mainly the review of Acsa's plan to insource HBS services, are ongoing. However, the High Court judgment on Friday dismissed this appeal, affirming that these orders remain operational and enforceable during the review process. 'The replacement of these units is essential to maintaining uninterrupted, internationally compliant baggage screening services at South Africa's major airports. We are pleased that the court has recognised the urgency and importance of this work, and that we can now move forward in the interests of all airline passengers,' said Duke Phahla, CEO of ACS. ACSA tenders Acsa has a fraught history of dealing with large tenders. In August last year, despite stating that there were no allegations of irregularities, Acsa suspended its chief information officer in relation to a technology tender. Mthokozisi Mncwabe had been placed on precautionary suspension after 'prima facie evidence of wrongdoing' was uncovered in a biometric and digital identity technology project. This came despite Acsa previously stating before the High Court that there were no irregularities in the procurement processes. The contract, worth R115 million, was awarded to French multinational technology company IDEMIA, with a requirement that at least 30% of the value be subcontracted to a South African, black-owned enterprise. IDEMIA partnered with the local company InfoVerge, but the relationship eventually deteriorated. Security tender Also last year, the court halted Acsa from awarding an airport security tender to a non-compliant service provider since 2018. This followed allegations made by the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) that Acsa unlawfully awarded the contract to Checkport SA, 'a foreign-owned company that has no requisite expertise'. NOW READ: Acsa wants a look over in fight over baggage screening services
