Airports security breaches allegations prompt Acsa to suspend security chief

Banele Ginindza

The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has temporarily suspended its Group Executive for Enterprise Security and Compliance, Mzwandile Petros, amid growing concerns over potential misconduct linked to a R1 billion tender for Smart Security screening equipment.

The suspension, announced over the weekend, follows alarming allegations suggesting manipulation of the X-ray screening contract, which allegedly left the OR Tambo International Airport vulnerable without a tactical response team.

Inside sources told Business Report that Petros was instrumental in the now backfiring decision made in March to termine contracts with all security providers, including Bidvest, Fidelity, Mafoko, Eagle Eye, Venus Securitas, and G4S in a bid to insource its security requirements by July, which failed due to lack of capacity and a proper due diligence.

"The South African Civil Aviation Authority had to intervene and stop the process as ACSA was not compliant and did not understand how the screener certification process works, they were issued a a R1.5 million fine for non-compliance. Regarding the failed insourcing at KSIA airport, Fidelity was called urgently back to rescue the situation." the sources said.

Acsa insisted in response to enquiries on Tuesday that to preserve the integrity of this process, ensure a fair and orderly process, and not to compromise the investigation, it cannot provide any further information until the investigation is concluded.

"Acsa will report back once the investigation is concluded. The day-to-day functions of Acsa will not be affected by this decision. In the interim, Mary-Ann Joubert, has been appointed to act as GE:ESC to ensure continuity and maintain operational stability," Acsa said.

Internal strife at Acsa has escalated in recent months, with late 2024 reports revealing allegations of executive misconduct and nepotism. These issues have raised serious questions surrounding irregularities prevalent in procurement processes and tender awards, further fueling public demand for accountability and transparent governance.

Particular scrutiny has been placed on the procurement of X-ray and screening equipment, with pictures surfacing of Petros and Group Head for Mechanical Maintenance, Peter Sibanda, visiting a bidder in Europe while possessing control over the tendering process.

Such actions have spurred allegations that signal improper relationships between Acsa executives and external contractors.

Accusations of Petros, a former Gauteng and Eastern Cape police commissioner, hiring former police colleagues in strategic positions in the Acsa security cluster, as well as the tactical response team, have also surfaced as insiders alleged an improper relationship between Acsa and private security contractor, Eagle Eye Security (ESS).

EES national general manager for support services, Johan Badenhorst, told Business Report the company was aware that Acsa has initiated an internal investigation and therefore, considered it both appropriate and prudent to afford Acsa the requisite space and latitude to conclude its internal processes without undue external influence or interference.

"It is imperative to place on record, in unequivocal terms, that at no point during the subsistence of our contractual engagement with Airports Company South Africa SOC Ltd (ACSA) did Eagle Eye Security Specialists (Pty) Ltd (EESS) vacate the OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) site without the requisite tactical support team being deployed and operationally present," Badenhorst said. 

According to inside sources, manipulation of the X-ray screening positions and associated services has seen workers struggle for job security as compelled to sign month-to-month contracts to defray benefits, including unemployment insurance, medical aid, bonuses and leave.

Sources claim that the manipulation of X-ray screening positions has forced employees into precarious working conditions, often requiring them to sign short-term month-to-month contracts in order for the company to allegedly circumvent paying employee benefits such as unemployment insurance, medical aid, bonuses, and leave.

"Because of this improper relationship between Acsa and Eagle Eye, workers are engaged on short-term contracts, which sometimes lead to overlaps in securing workers for the shifts," a source said.

"There was a time in late June when the whole OR Tambo International Airport had no tactical response team because Acsa and Eagle Eye could not agree. Eagle Eye pulled out its teams, leaving Acsa's team of retired policemen. This was noted by one minister who was very angry about it."

According to workers, since the installation of the X-ray and screening equipment, there has been a systematic shift in the management of security workers as both Acsa and Eagle Eye have their own quotas, which they are allegedly replacing with untrained staff.

BUSINESS REPORT