Several new companies have been appointed to provide security at South African airports, the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) announced on Thursday.
”Group 4 Securicor will provide services at Johannesburg International Airport with effect from 1 April 2006. They take over from Springbok Khulani and Enlightened Security, whose contracts expire on 31 March 2006.
”Bosasa Security will continue to provide services in the car park areas at the airport,” Acsa communications manager Solomon Makgale said in a statement.
Acsa had concluded their tender process for the provision of physical security, comprising securing access-control gates as well as screening vehicles accessing the restricted area.
The tender process for the contract started in June 2005 and was awarded to various security companies on a five-year basis.
Acsa had started a process of overhauling its access-control system at the airport in December, which was now nearing completion, said Makgale.
The enhanced system was to incorporate biometric readers, limiting access to sensitive areas so that, for example, only specific individuals requiring direct access would be able to go to those areas.
At Cape Town International Airport, Khulani Fidelity Security Services was re-appointed through the same tender process with their contract being effective from May 1.
”Enlightened Security Force will provide similar services at Durban International, Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Upington airports. Venus Africa Security will provide the services at George, Pilanesberg, East London and Port Elizabeth airports,” Makgale said.
The previous service provider for all those airports was Springbok Khulani and the two contracts would take effect as of April 1.
Makgale said the monetary values of the contracts were confidential.
”I would like to emphasise the fact that given this information, it is abundantly clear that the appointment of a new security company and the overhaul of the access-permit system are not linked to the armed robbery incident on Saturday,” said Makgale.
”They are coincidental.”
While the company was confident the measures currently in place were adequate to enable them to deal with any security matters, these processes and various other initiatives they had embarked upon would go a long way to enhance security at the airports, Makgale said. — Sapa