Acsa Acknowledges Security Checkpoint Delays At JNB During Insourcing Transition Period

Ongoing delays at security checkpoints at OR Tambo International (JNB) have been attributed to Acsa’s transition to insourced screening personnel.

In a statement to Travel News, Acsa said: “We acknowledge that passengers have experienced longer queues over the past few weeks. These were due to various factors, including seasonal passenger peaks and transitional staffing gaps during the implementation of our insourcing model. Only three security checkpoints were operational during this period, leading to longer-than-usual queues.”

Acsa’s contract with passenger security screening service provider, Eagle Eye, ended at midnight on June 30. On July 1, Acsa circulated an internal notice informing operators that it had assumed responsibility for security screening.

According to Acsa, the ongoing security delays at JNB on July 1 and 2 were due to a shortage of certified screeners during the transition to internal personnel, a high absenteeism rate and the increased passenger volume passing through the airport because of the school holidays.

A pattern of insourcing struggles

This most recent hurdle is the latest in a series of challenges during Acsa’s journey to insource more airport services.

Acsa explained that its phased insourcing strategy had been initiated in 2023, with security screening brought in-house from July 1 as part of the plan.

“There has been this philosophy at Acsa to insource everything since Mpumi Mpofu became CEO. The fact that Acsa faces challenges with its existing responsibilities has not stopped it from wanting to take over the rest,” said Miles van der Molen, CEO of CemAir.

“They have been very aggressive with it and a lot of service providers have been taken to court.”

One such case involves Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS), the current provider of hold baggage screening (HBS) at two international airports. Acsa has been in a legal battle with Acsa to take over the service, with a recent court ruling affirming that ACS was currently mandated to manage HBS services, as reported by Travel News. The ruling also blocked any attempt by Acsa to override or bypass ACS’s existing role in HBS services, while its insourcing strategy is under review.

Since then, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, has intervened and issued a ministerial order to the Acsa Board to engage in a mediation process with ACS, raising concerns about the negative impact protracted litigation could have on airport security.