Airport safety 'a real threat'

'Catastrophic non-compliance' as he plans to lay charges.

- Hein Kaiser

Despite being ignored, detained and threatened by authorities, explosive safety expert Jimmy Roodt said he has started laying criminal charges against Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), the SA Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) and their chief executives, Mpumi Mpofu and Poppy Khosa respectively.

He also plans to formally lay charges against Transport Minister Barbara Creecy.

The conduct of Acsa and Sacaa, as overseen by Creecy, breaches several laws, including the Civil Aviation Act, the Civil Aviation Security Regulations of 2011, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the international standards contained in ICAO Annex 17 and Doc 8973, Roodt said.

It pertains to the believed safety transgressions.

Roodt submitted a detailed affidavit that sets out what he believes are systemic and unlawful safety failures at King Shaka, OR Tambo and Cape Town International Airports.

Roodt asks Saps to open a criminal docket against the companies and leadership, conduct urgent site inspections, seize Acsa and Sacaa records and refer the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority.

In his affidavit, Roodt also alleged years of ignored warnings have left SA's major airports dangerously exposed.