ACS works on upgrading baggage screening equipment
JOHANNESBURG - Airport Baggage screening machines have reached the end of their lifespan.
This has left airports including OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports reliant on outdated systems.
But a Gauteng High Court ruling has prevented a serious security and operational issue.
The court has granted Aviation Coordination Services' (ACS) request to replace Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) machines.
It follows a legal battle between ACS and Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).
In 2023, ACSA terminated ACS's baggage screening services intending to take over the service directly.
The company went ahead with this even though it is the airline's responsibility to provide HBS services at airports.
And ACS was legally mandated to manage HBS by the airports.
ACS CEO, Duke Phahla, has welcomed the judgment.
He says the dismissal of ACSA's appeal means ACS will now be allowed to replace the old HBS equipment which will ensure they continue to operate effectively.
These machines improve threat detection, faster processing times but also reduce the burden on screeners, improve output, and reduce the risk of false alarms or missed detections.
ACS says the upgrades will take about a month, with the work happening mostly outside peak hours to avoid disrupting passenger travel.
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The South African
a day ago
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IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Court halts Mango airline's business rescue plan
State-owned Mango's step towards resuming flights does not appear to be any closer, four years after the low-cost airline was grounded in July 2021. This follows a Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg ruling that its business rescue plan cannot be implemented. Image: File The process of reviving state-owned low-cost airline Mango appears to have been stopped after the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg declared that its business rescue plan cannot be implemented. Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS) hauled Mango and its business rescue practitioner Sipho Sono to court over the plan to save the subsidiary of South African Airways (SAA). ACS, which provided security-related services such as baggage and cargo screening services, baggage reconciliation and check-in services, is among dozens of creditors owed about R2.91 billion by Mango before it was placed under business rescue in July 2021. At the time it was placed under business rescue, Mango did not own any material assets as its most significant assets were leased. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading In September 2021, a couple of months after being placed under business rescue the only asset on Mango's balance sheet was a spare engine bought by SAA for US$9.6m with the lowest indicative offer received in the last 12 months being around US$2m (R30m then). Mango also had an un-flown ticket liability of about R183m at the start of the business rescue through its full value voucher system. ACS is owed over R23.3 million by the SAA subsidiary and was among the creditors who voted against Sono's business rescue plan, which was approved by 98% of the voting creditors. The company objected to a payment to the creditors (clause 6.2.6) in the plan stating that all of the remaining balance of the claims of the remaining concurrent creditors will be ceded to the investor at face value thereof but for nominal consideration. It also indicated that the concurrent creditors, except the SA Revenue Service and the creditors in respect of the un-flown ticket liability, will be paid a "top up" settlement payment for their claims. This meant that the majority of the creditors would be paid 4.43 cents to every rand. ACS complained that the estimated settlement would translate roughly to R44,300 per R1m, a return which is negligible, if not nominal. In addition to the debt acquired by the investor through the cession of the claims of concurrent creditors may be converted to equity (or quasi equity instrument), subordinated or otherwise be dealt with in such manner that Mango will be restored to solvency. On Tuesday, Judge Denise Fisher found that 'the plan, shorn of its complexity, amounts to nothing more than the confiscation of the creditors' claims in order that they be transferred by Sono to an investor who pays no value for them or the shares'. 'The compulsory cession contained in clause 6.2.6 of the business rescue plan is declared to be invalid and of no force and effect. It is declared that the business rescue plan cannot be implemented,' the judge ordered. Judge Fisher said Sono's opposition of ACS's application was unmeritorious. Earlier this month, Sono announced Mango's plans to resume operations and requested passengers with un-flown tickets to register on its website, promising full value refunds once it takes to the skies again after four years. Sono did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
IOL News
05-06-2025
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Court ruling secures baggage screening units for passengers at OR Tambo and King Shaka
Airline passengers can thank the courts for the replacement of four critical Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports. Image: Supplied Airline passengers can thank the courts for the replacement of four critical Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) units at OR Tambo and King Shaka International Airports. This is as a protracted legal dispute continues involving - the Aviation Co-ordination Services (ACS), Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) - over who holds the mandate to provide check-in hold baggage screening (HBS) services at South African airports. The ACS said it had launched the legal action given the risk of service breakdown due to ageing screening infrastructure and manufacturer support withdrawal, which compelled it to seek urgent court relief in 2024 to allow it to replace four back-up Level 3 HBS units at OR Tambo and King Shaka. ACS in November obtained an order barring Acsa from implementing its insourcing decision or awarding any contracts under its tender that directed Acsa to allow ACS to replace the equipment; and ordered Sacaa to approve the replacement within five days. ACS CEO Duke Phahla said, 'We commend Sacaa's recognition of the urgency in replacing aged HBS equipment to ensure uninterrupted security operations at airports. We have always maintained that passenger safety and continuity must come first, and this step reflects that shared concern.' The matter stems from May 2023 when Acsa announced its intention to terminate ACS's long-standing role as the provider of HBS services and to insource the function and subsequently issued a R3.15 billion tender for the procurement of new baggage screening equipment opening the floodgate of legal suits amongst the parties. Following the Gauteng High Court granting for the replacement, Acsa said it contested the ACS's handling of baggage as it was in contravention of the Constitution (which states that all organs of state must engage in procurement that is fair and transparent), the ACSA Act, the Public Finance Management Act, which requires that all airport charges levied to passengers must be approved by a Regulating Committee. Acsa's manager for Communications, Sisa Majola, said in response to enquiries, "The charges currently being levied by ACS are not regulated. The next development in the proceedings will be the hearing of the appeal against the court's order to interdict Acsa from implementing its insourcing of Hold Baggage Screening and the procurement of the screening." Majola said it was crucial that the ACS has challenged Acsa's decision to insource/perform Hold Baggage Screening Services, and a court of law has not heard this matter, nor has ACS been confirmed as the entity entitled to render Hold Baggage Screening Services. Acsa confirmed it would comply with the back-up replacement court order and continue with the appeal, as it was granted leave to appeal by the High Court and would continue to defend the review proceedings. ACS's Phala said, 'While the legal process runs its course, our focus remains on ensuring uninterrupted, world-class baggage screening services for passengers and airlines. We remain committed to working co-operatively with Acsa, Sacaa and all stakeholders to safeguard operational integrity and uphold aviation security standards." In its response, Sacaa said there are no ongoing discussions between the Sacaa and ACS and that further determinations would have to be from court pronouncements.
