Originally Posted by johan rebel
I remember the days when there were at least two heavily armed officers, usually with one or more dogs, at every entrance to the passenger terminal, all on the lookout for terrorists. Not sure the airport was much safer then, even though I once saw them chase the cleaning staff off the premises with sjamboks (whips).
It not necessarily porters or cleaning people. Its the general attitude towards security at the airport that may worry some.
In a follow up story
Originally Posted by SABC News
Acsa sees need to change security at Jo'burg Airport
SABC 17 September 2004
Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has acknowledged that security at the Johannesburg International Airport needs to be upgraded. Acsa met with the South African Airways management, other airlines outside Johannesburg and the airport management this afternoon.
According to an SABC reporter, the security company is to release details of the meeting tomorrow.
Dutch airline, KLM, at the meeting apparently expressed concern about the security situation at Johannesburg International Airport. This follows yesterday's attempted robbery near one of their aircraft.
A gang of armed men tried to intercept a cargo last night, as it was being loaded on board with a police escort. Three police officers were wounded during the incident, but are in a stable condition.
The robbers fled in all directions without taking any of the cargo, which was reported to be gold and diamonds. No arrests were made and the airport was closed for about two hours.
Police and airport authorities are tight-lipped about the incident, and will not comment on the security threat. Security at the airport consists of two different security companies - one run by Acsa, the other contracted out as well as police presence.
Eugene Opperman, a police spokesperson, said the different branches of security work very closely together. Police are always present during sensitive operations such as transportation of valuable cargo.
The last major robbery at the Johannesburg International Airport was in December 2001 when armed men made off with $1.5 million in cash, and more than $100 000 worth of diamonds and jewellery from the cargo depot, causing the airport to cancel its contract with its security company. - Additional reporting by Sapa