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

Sources within ACSA have revealed that the purchase of 36 ETD units was excessive. According to industry standards, only a fraction of this number was necessary—just 15 units in total for various South African airports. For instance, O.R. Tambo International required only four, while other airports such as King Shaka International (KSIA) and Cape Town International (CTIA) needed even fewer. Alarmingly, Acsa already had several functional ETD machines in its inventory, rendering the additional purchase unnecessary.

The units purchased were also substandard. Although the machines were priced at R330,000 each, including taxes, Acsa paid a significantly inflated price of R1.1 million per unit. To make matters worse, these ETD units were not internationally accredited, nor had they been tested for the South African conditions required by SACAA. Some of the Chinese-manufactured machines reportedly failed to meet basic detection standards, raising serious concerns about their effectiveness. Furthermore, the required training for personnel operating the devices was not approved by SACAA, leaving Acsa vulnerable to both operational and security risks.

Financial Irregularities and Delayed Penalties

The financial discrepancies are equally troubling. ACSA is believed to have overpaid by approximately R25 million for the ETD units, with the cost for the 36 machines initially expected to be no more than R15 million. The contract stipulated penalties for late delivery, but when Mafoko Security missed the deadline, no penalties were enforced. Even more perplexing, Petros approved an upfront payment of R18 million to Mafoko Security in July 2022, before the company had even placed the order for the faulty equipment. The remaining R22 million was paid in December 2022, months after the units had been delivered.

Internal communications reveal that Acsa’s security team had prepared a penalty letter for Mafoko Security, but Petros reportedly blocked its issuance. The lack of accountability in this case has raised eyebrows among whistleblowers, who have suggested that Petros could have personally benefitted from the deal to the tune of R3 million.

Political Connections and Corruption Allegations

The procurement scandal also raises questions about possible corruption and political interference. Some insiders claim that the remaining profits from the ETD transaction were funneled to the ANC in an effort to secure political favors at the party’s December 2022 conference.

Furthermore, Mafoko Security has come under fire for failing to meet basic legal obligations, such as paying employee provident funds, issuing payslips, or adhering to wage agreements. Despite these violations, the company continues to secure lucrative government contracts, prompting accusations of “state protection”

The Impact on Security and Reputational Damage

International airlines operating into and out of South Africa have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Acsa’s security protocols, particularly in light of the faulty ETD units. Several airlines have implemented additional security checks, including explosive detection, before allowing passengers to board flights originating from South Africa. This added scrutiny highlights the growing lack of confidence in South African airport security systems.

Call for Accountability and Action

As the investigation into Acsa's procurement practices deepens, calls for accountability are intensifying. The mismanagement of R40 million in taxpayer funds could have serious legal, financial, and reputational consequences for the state-owned company. Acsa is now under pressure to explain how such a debacle was allowed to happen and what measures will be taken to prevent future irregularities.

The South African public, along with various government watchdogs, are demanding a full investigation into the actions of Petros and other implicated individuals. The Star has sent questions to Acsa executives, the minister of Transport, the Hawks and Mafoko Security.

There were no responses at the time of going to print.

Part two of the story will be published on Monday.

This is a developing story.