FLIGHT TO FRAUD: ACSA'S HEFTY PROCUREMENT SCANDAL

Spending now under scrutiny over potential squandering of taxpayer funds

- PULE MAKGALE

O.R. TAMBO International Airport, once a beacon of international aviation, is now embroiled in a scandal involving Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), which has been accused of squandering millions of rands on irregular procurement processes.

A recent investigation has revealed that Acsa's Group Executive for Security and Compliance, Lt. General (Ret.) Mazwandile Petros, approved the purchase of 36 Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) units from Mafoko Security for a staggering R40 million in July 2022. This decision is now under scrutiny for its questionable nature and potential misuse of taxpayer funds.

A Questionable Procurement Process

In December 2021, Acsa was aware that a State-to-State International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) audit was scheduled to take place in August 2022. Despite this, Petros bypassed standard procurement protocols and opted for an emergency procurement process in June 2022-just two months before the audit.

Instead of adhering to proper procurement procedures, such as launching an open tender under the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Acsa supply chain policies, Petros approved the purchase in haste. The ETD units were intended to secure clearance for the audit, but due to significant delivery delays, the final units only arrived in November 2022-three months after the audit had already concluded.

Excessive Purchases and Substandard Equipment