The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has once again been embroiled in fresh allegations of impropriety amid allegations of its failure to intervene in irregular behaviour of some of its executives after they visited and posed for pictures with a bidder in Europe.
The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) is once again embroiled in controversy, with fresh allegations surrounding executive misconduct, including involvement in tender processes and claims of nepotism.
This comes ahead of a new R1 billion tender for Smart Security screening equipment, which was publicly advertised on 21st November 2024 and is due for submissions by 17th January 2025.
According to credible insiders who spoke with The Star on the condition of anonymity, the tender is expected to replace all X-Ray and security screening equipment across ACSA's airports.
However, the timing of these allegations raises serious questions about corporate governance within the embattled organisation.
Previous scandals included a disastrous passenger identification tender, in which ACSA was initially exonerated from a contractual dispute involving the supplier Indemia, but later cited a "prima facie" case against one of its executives, resulting in the contract's cancellation after an expenditure of over R100 million.
Moreover, the Office of the Auditor-General found no irregularity in the process, prompting further scrutiny into ACSA's internal practices.
This new scandal has manifested in the form of photographs that surfaced on 18th October 2024, displaying two senior executives—Group Head for Compliance and Security General Mzwandile Petros and Group Head for Mechanical Maintenance Peter Sibanda—visiting a bidder in Europe.
Insiders allege that these meetings should have been avoided as both executives possess control over the tender's process and adjudication.
A critical source lamented the shift in corporate culture since Petros's appointment, which reportedly involved bending ACSA retirement policies to retain the executive past the standard age of 60.
Furthermore, Petros’s hiring practices drew condemnation as he allegedly favoured former colleagues from the South African Police Service, appointing General Moeketsi Sempe and Colonel Caroline Naidoo to key financial roles, despite Sempe lacking the necessary qualifications and Naidoo facing serious personal legal issues.
Petros was previously accused of dealings at another state entity, SITA, where he allegedly faced accusations over an ill-fated R10 million contract meant to track down stolen laptops.
Petros' company, The iFirm, lost a lucrative security contract with the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) after the contract was deemed unlawful by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, due to Sita's failure to follow proper tender procedures and obtain necessary approvals. The court's decision was based on the fact that Sita's chief executive, Freeman Nomvalo, exceeded his authority by signing the contract without the required approval from the agency's board. The contract value exceeded R100 million, which necessitated board approval according to Sita's supply chain management policy.
Furthermore, another source told The Star of a change of culture due to Petros’s alleged nepotism and bullying ways.
“When General Mzwandile Petros got appointed he was over 60 years and ACSA retirement policy was 60. And we had to change it to accommodate his appointment.
General Mzwandile Petros appointed two of his former colleagues from SAPS on contracts. He appointed General Moeketsi Sempe to a Senior Manager position which was occupied at the time and the incumbent was still holding the position,“ the second source said.
He also appointed Colonel Caroline Naidoo to the position of Senior Manager Airport Security at OR Tambo International Airport.
When their contracts expired, he appointed General Moeketsi Sempe to a Group Manager Airport Security position and unfortunately, the requirement for this position was NQF Level 8 and he didn't have it. But he was appointed.
Caroline Naidoo's contract was not renewed because the employees at OR Tambo International Airport reported to the CEO regarding her pending murder case where she was accused of assassinating her late husband,“ the source further alleges.
Attempts to get comment from the airports company were unsuccessful at the time of going to print following emails and text messages to some of the implicated executives.
Last week, The Star reported on allegations made by some service providers who had indicated that they were owed millions in unpaid invoices.
However, the aviation company hit back at these allegations saying: it will not be forced to pay these service providers as they are not owed anything.
Acsa explained that liquidation proceedings were instituted over unverified claims and it is not aware of any further impending applications since the proceedings started.
Acsa timeously pays all legitimate and undisputed invoices that are received and where goods and services have been rendered. From the inception of the contracts from 2017 to date, Acsa has paid security companies an amount of R3.97 billion," Acsa said in a statement.
It added that after years, the security services agreements are due for renewal and are subject to litigation from several of the current service providers.
The Star