Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), once regarded as a beacon of excellence in aviation, is now ensnared in a series of controversies that have raised grave concerns about its future.
At the heart of this turmoil lies CEO Mpumi Mpofu, whose leadership has been marred by accusations of corruption, legal battles, and operational failures. The scale of the mismanagement under Mpofu’s tenure threatens to destabilise the organisation and undermine the country’s aviation programme.
The procurement of security services has also come under intense scrutiny. In June 2024, the South Gauteng High Court intervened to halt ACSA’s awarding of an emergency security tender, citing significant flaws in the process.
This was the second interdict in six months, with court documents revealing that ACSA had awarded licences to companies that did not meet the required financial criteria, including one that was already liquidated.
ACSA later admitted to losing crucial tender documents, leading to mounting legal costs, all of which are ultimately borne by taxpayers. Insiders also claim that Petros, who oversaw the tender process, had personal ties with several companies involved.
Another significant challenge facing ACSA is the decision to insource over 3,500 contracted security personnel at a cost of R2 billion over five years. This move, backed by Mpofu and Petros, has strained the company's finances and compromised its profitability. Critics argue that ACSA deliberately made it difficult for private security firms by withholding payments and fostering non-compliance.
The insourcing process has led to operational failures, particularly at Cape Town International Airport, where ACSA’s management faced significant challenges in taking over security operations, resulting in an over-expenditure of R4 million monthly compared to previous times. Further illustrating ACSA’s mismanagement is the procurement of runway lighting at Cape Town International Airport.
The R60 million contract was awarded to a company with no aviation experience, resulting in faulty lighting systems that caused multiple flight delays and safety risks. This led to intervention by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), as the deal bypassed standard procurement procedures under the guise of urgency.
ACSA's tender for a R3.15 billion baggage screening system has also been the subject of legal challenges. The Johannesburg High Court ruled in November 2024 that ACSA’s plan to insource baggage screening services was unlawful, further complicating the company’s efforts to modernize operations.
Reports also emerged suggesting that Petros had been involved in meetings with X-ray suppliers in Germany just before ACSA issued a substantial baggage screening tender, prompting questions about conflicts of interest.
A R115 million contract for biometric and digital identity technology has turned into a legal and financial debacle. ACSA awarded the contract to French company IDEMIA, but the supplier excluded the required local partner, INFOVERGE, resulting in a R39 million damages claim.
ACSA eventually terminated the contract, but IDEMIA has since initiated legal proceedings. The suspension of ACSA’s CIO amid the controversy has raised questions about the role of Mpofu, who reportedly approved the contract despite potential conflicts of interest involving Petros’s past ties with companies.
Despite reporting a R472 million after-tax profit for 2023/2024, ACSA faces accusations of financial misrepresentation. The company allegedly owes over R550 million to service providers, primarily due to unpaid security increases, and some providers have even initiated liquidation proceedings.
While Mpofu denied the liability, ACSA later admitted that these debts existed, and mediation efforts are currently underway.ACSA’s operational troubles have also plagued passenger services. In January 2025, passengers at OR Tambo International Airport experienced significant delays due to a fuel supply issue caused by ACSA’s cancellation of a multinational fuel supplier’s contract. This disruption led to public backlash and further tarnished ACSA’s reputation under Mpofu’s leadership.
ACSA has also faced criticism for its controversial recruitment practices. Since November 2020, Mpofu has appointed several retired police generals and former SAPS officers into the security division, many of whom lack aviation security experience.
These appointments have raised concerns about governance and operational effectiveness, particularly as some individuals have alleged misconduct in their prior careers.
Responding to The Star’s questions, ACSA’s said: “As part of an ongoing assessment of security equipment and a regular international audit of all its nine airports, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) embarked on an emergency procurement process in 2022”
“All seven ACSA licensed security service providers were invited to bid for the supply of 36 Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) units in relation to the capacity of the airports and risks associated with operations”, they said.
The Hawks said they would wait for Transport Minister Barbara Creecy's report and begin an investigation.
“The Minister will forward these allegations to the Chair of the Acsa Board and ask that these allegations be investigated”, Collen Msibi, Spokesperson to the Department of Transport, said.