Following a spate of criminal incidents concerning OR Tambo International Airport, Acsa released a statement saying it is working with the SAPS and other major stakeholders to improve security and reduce the number of occurrences.
The statement says OR Tambo management is aware of the crime, such as the recent case where two people were followed home and shot and wounded and is working with the SAPS to improve security. “In addition, we provide any assistance we can to the efforts of the SAPS to prevent crime that is connected to the airport in some way,” says Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs OR Tambo.
Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo says the SAPS is implementing strategies such as visible policing to improve security. He says the SAPS is also involved with major stake holders such as OR Tambo, hotels and foreign embassies to educate travellers on how to reduce their risks.
Gunkel-Keuler says there are a few ways that travellers can reduce their risk. “Do not make high-value items visible to those around you; be aware of those around you as criminals do not fit any special profile; keep your bags close at all times and be aware of being followed.” Travellers should check their mirrors regularly or ask their drivers to do so. Travellers should have emergency numbers loaded on their phones in case of an emergency and should know where their closest police station is. “If travellers feel they are being followed they should keep driving and get to the closest police station,” Gunkel-Keuler advises.
Naidoo echoes many of these warnings and says travellers should not discuss their travel plans with anyone. He says foreign travellers should try and avoid exchanging their currency for rands and should rather make use electronic payments if possible. “When people carry cash they become targets.”
While South Africans are also at risk, Naidoo says travellers from Uganda, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo seem to be the main targets.
