/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

On Wednesday, 13 April 2022, a home affairs official was arrested at O.R. Tambo International Airport for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals into the country. This brazen act according to the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi is a coordinated effort that involves not only the home affairs official but a broader syndicate of role-players. 

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) worked tirelessly in a multi-disciplinary manner with a range of law enforcement agencies to help bring this official to book. General Mzwandile Petros, ACSA’s Group Executive: Enterprise Security, accompanied Minister Motsoaledi and law enforcement agencies to arrest the home affairs official. Petros, a former Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner, lauded the arrest, stating that this is a clear signal that there will be zero tolerance for illegal activities across the ACSA airports network”. 

Airports are critical government assets and a key point of entry - transporting passengers, goods and services within and outside of our borders. Its business, by its nature, is highly complex, with security fundamental and at the heart of what we do. Consequently, persons that are found entering South Africa illegally, will be charged with illegal entry and thus a criminal offence. This includes the syndicated groups of people involved in moving people illegally across our borders through our airports. Immigration detention policies and practices are in place within ACSA and will continuously be scrutinised to strengthen our security role. 

Likewise, the National Key Points Act will be repealed by 30 April 2022. New prescripts of law have been introduced to best secure airports and other critical infrastructure clauses which is aligned to global aviation law. This piece of legislation serves as a guide to protect our national critical infrastructure such as airports and how to deal with perpetrators who seek to violate our premises. 

“ACSA will continue to work around the clock, and collaboratively with law enforcement agencies to bring to book any employee or official who transgresses the law. I hope that the arrest of this home affairs official sends a strong warning that no illegal activities will be tolerated at our airports. Keeping our passengers safe is our priority. My team and I will continue to work with all airport security stakeholders to ensure that there are no security breaches at our airports,” concluded General Petros.

Global alien smuggling has been growing exponentially over the past few years, making inter-agency security operations at all of our national airports a priority in our business model. ACSA will do everything in its power to uphold the security integrity and work with enforcement agencies to ensure that our airports remain safe places for everyone.

Issued by Airports Company South Africa