Johannesburg – The stunning discovery {that a} passenger in possession of two coaching hand grenades departed from O.R. Tambo International Airport and travelled to Ethiopia earlier than he was came upon, has put the highlight on the Hold Baggage Screening part.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has revealed that it was “formally notified” in regards to the passenger present in possession of two grenades upon arrival at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“We can verify that ACSA was formally notified of the incident by Ethiopian Airlines, according to worldwide aviation protocols, after the gadgets had been detected throughout reverse baggage screening upon arrival,” ACSA stated in an announcement on Thursday, 24 July 2025.
ACSA stated, as required by nationwide regulatory procedures, it reported the matter to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA).
The airport firm stated the Hold Baggage Screening space, the place the safety lapse occurred, falls below the operational management of Aviation Coordination Services (ACS) (Pty) Ltd.
ACS is a third-party entity below the management of airline associations, specifically the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA).
ACS has since instituted disciplinary proceedings towards the worker chargeable for the safety breach.
The safety lapse has reignited the dispute about who’s chargeable for the Hold Baggage Screening space at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
ACSA stated the Hold Baggage Screening service was taken over in 1998 below questionable circumstances.
ACSA has reported this matter to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), generally generally known as the Hawks, Special Investigating Unit, and the Auditor General of South Africa.
Further complicating issues, ACS claims that the accountability for Hold Baggage Screening rests with the airways.
ACSA stated its place, additionally shared by SACAA, was that because the licensed aerodrome operator, it was chargeable for conducting Hold Baggage Screening providers on behalf of the state.
“Moreover, ACS is working opposite to public procurement laws. Notwithstanding these authorized points, ACS is chargeable for this lapse in safety and has additionally accepted legal responsibility for the incident,” ACSA said.
ACSA’s resolution to terminate ACS’s providers as a result of “it has no authorized foundation or contract to hold out Hold Baggage Screening providers” led to the matter ending up in court docket.
“ACS operates on an evergreen foundation with no contract and isn’t an entity recognised in any civil aviation laws or topic to any authorized regulation,” defined ACSA.
“The operation of ACS is opposite to, inter alia, part 217 of the Constitution, Public Finance Management Act, National Key Points Act, the ACSA Act and the Civil Aviation Act and Regulations.
“To guarantee compliance with the Constitution and its legislative mandate, ACSA determined to supply the providers itself and, for transparency, has issued a young to buy the mandatory tools.”
However, ACS efficiently launched a court docket problem towards ACSA.
The interdict bars ACSA from implementing the insourcing resolution pending finalisation of a court docket overview.
The interdict precludes ACSA from executing its mandate insofar because it pertains to working the whole Hold Baggage Screening service.
ACSA has been granted go away to attraction the interdict, and a date for the attraction is but to be set.
