The government was finalising a multi-million rand aviation security plan, which would provide resources to secure airports around the country, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe confirmed on Monday.
”We [the government] are in the final stages of finalising the national aviation security plan,” and the plan would be put into effect ”as soon as possible”.
Radebe, who addressed delegates at an Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) workshop in Cape Town, said he viewed recent reports of security breaches at Johannesburg International Airport in a serious light.
Besides Acsa liaising closely with police and other security agencies, Radebe said government was also considering security at the country’s points of entry and exit.
He said South Africa continued to be marketed as a safe and friendly tourist destination, and could not afford complacency.
Acsa said airport security worldwide was acknowledged as presenting ”extraordinary and exceptional difficulties”.
Airports are busy international frontiers across which millions of travellers citizens move annually.
”They are in effect large and busy metropolitan nodes with varied activities employing large numbers of people, 18 500 at Johannesburg for example; and huge quantities of valuable freight pass through their portals,” reads Acsa’s 2003
annual report.
Acsa has introduced measures such as:
an intensive security audit among employees;
an upgraded permit system;
a high-powered internal investigation team;
security incentive schemes; and
an anonymous tip-offs hotline, all in a bid to improve security at airports.
Acsa has set aside R100-million for the implementation of the security plan.
Radebe told delegates at the workshop they should consider recent reports concerning airport security, transport and the implementation of necessary international security arrangements in ports and harbours when planning for the future.
Noting that air travel has increased just over 17% since 2001, Radebe said African passenger air traffic still had great problems such as poor scheduling and services, routings and costings.
Radebe said he met recently with his Kenyan and Nigerian counterparts to encourage the speedy implementation of the open skies requirements of the Yamassoukro Declaration.
”Partly to meet this new commitment, South Africa will host in the first quarter of next year a continent-wide meeting of transportation and aviation ministers to assess the current situation of the total aviation situation in Africa,” he said.
The forthcoming meeting will help identify shortcomings, map the way forward for increased investment in the aviation sector, and encourage partnerships and cooperation between African countries at the government and industry levels.
”It is quite clear that the development agenda of Nepad will be negatively affected if we are unable to provide the necessary transportation, including the adequate, efficient, predictable and reliable movement of goods and people,” he said. – Sapa