Johannesburg – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is probing a recent incident at OR Tambo International Airport in which a passenger’s baggage was tampered with and possessions stolen.
Late on Wednesday, the airports company’s regional general manager of OR Tambo International Airport, Jabulani Khambule, said: “ACSA is currently cooperating with the relevant airline and baggage handling company to ensure the incident is thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators are brought to book immediately”.
Khambule added: “I would like to remind our customers that ACSA has a zero-tolerance approach to criminality and any forms of illegal behaviour by any airport staff, whether they are directly employed by ACSA or contracted to work at our airports.
“We will ensure that the investigation into this incident results in the apprehension of the perpetrators who will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Khambule, however, explained that “ACSA was not responsible for baggage handling as this is done by the airlines themselves”.
ACSA urges passengers to report any incidents of baggage tampering and pilfering to their respective airlines so that an investigation can be carried out.
“While baggage handling is the responsibility of the airlines, ACSA will provide assistance and any relevant evidence, such as video footage, to aid the investigation and to bring those responsible to book,” Khambule explained.
“I would like to warn all airport staff that any illegal or criminal behaviour will result in serious consequences.”
Commenting on a video circulating on social media showing baggage pilfering at OR Tambo International Airport, Khambule said the incident took place four years ago.
He said the employee involved was prosecuted and dismissed at the time of the incident.
“I would like to reiterate that ACSA seeks to deter and fight fraud, corruption, dishonesty, and theft of any kind,” Khambule assured.
“ACSA recently adopted an integrated, multi-agency safety and security approach throughout our airport network to enhance airport and aviation security in general.
“We have rolled out an aviation security model that is vertically and horizontally integrated with various law enforcement authorities to root out criminality at our airports.”
