OR Tambo committed to identify ‘airport spotters’
The airport’s executive will continue to work with various stakeholders within the travel and tourism sector so that it remains engaged on the issue of crime.
MANAGEMENT of OR Tambo International Airport is working through its public safety and security staff to identify the ‘airport spotters’ believed to be alerting the criminals behind follow-home robberies.
Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, spokesperson for OR Tambo International Airport, issued a statement on Tuesday following statements made during Carte Blanche on Sunday by alleged airport spotters about the use of insiders to identify potential victims.
These insiders, according to the alleged spotter, are spread across a variety of people working in different roles at the airport.
“We will not hesitate to take decisive action when we identify any person helping the criminals, irrespective of whether these spotters are employed by Airports Company South Africa or one of the many service providers operating at the airport,” said Gunkel-Keuler.
These could include employees of airline companies, ground handling companies, cargo operators, security companies, retail concessionaires, hotels, public transport operators, government agencies and others, among the 35 000 people employed airport-wide.
“In addition, we continue to work closely with the SAPS on a variety of measures, including surveillance and intelligence work, to identify the spotters and the criminals.”
She said that the airport’s executive would continue to work with various stakeholders within the travel and tourism sector so that it remained engaged on the issue of crime.
An airport is a complex facility within which many stakeholders operate, she says.
“Typically, only about 10 to 15 percent of people working at an airport anywhere in the world are directly employed by the airport company. Further, it is important to note that certain key stakeholders are not accountable to airport management in the execution of their safety and security mandate.”
Gunkel-Keuler says that in this context, efforts in regard to safety and security need to be carefully synchronised.
“We will continue to work with all law enforcement agencies and the wider airport community to implement activities that will help identify the spotters alleged to be employed at the airport by various companies,” she said.
