ACSA’S descent into chaos

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.

- PULE MAKGALE [e-mail]

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.