Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) says it does not have any policies or procedures that discriminate against any passengers or airport users on the basis of gender, race, cultural beliefs, religion, or place of origin.
This after a Gqeberha airport came under fire for what some described as an ill-worded and offensive security notice, making particular mention and singling out Muslim women’s headdress.
The Eastern Cape city’s Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport announced via Facebook that as part of security measures, people wearing any kind of headgear – including head wraps, hijabs, burkas or niqabs – would undergo a physical search.
It further added that searches can be conducted in an enclosed area, on request.
In a statement on Sunday, Acsa said it noted reports on security screening and searching of passengers and appealed for co-operation with airport security personnel as they undertake an “essential part of aviation security”.
“As our airports across the network continue to experience a steady increase in passenger volumes, in the interest of keeping everyone safe, Acsa will continue to adhere to all internationally recognised standard operating procedures and comply with national aviation legislation and regulations that strive to ensure the security and safety of passengers.
“Our security protocols include random physical searches that are performed for all passengers after a certain number of people have passed a security search point at the airport terminal. These standard practices are in line with the security manual of the International Civil Aviation Organisation,” Acsa said.
Acsa added that searches are designed to be conducted on all travellers, even when there is no trigger from the security checkpoint.
“Acsa calls on all travellers to note that when being ushered through the screening process by airport security personnel, they may be required to remove any headgear including fixed religious and cultural headgear.
“At all times, the physical searches will be conducted with due sensitivity to recognised religious and cultural practices. This includes providing an appropriate space to conduct a physical search, should the passenger so prefer.”
“Acsa acknowledges that physical searches may cause discomfort to our passengers, and in view of this, our security personnel have been instructed to ensure that all searches are conducted in a respectful and courteous manner.”
General Mzwandile Petros, group executive for Enterprise Security, said: “Acsa, as a state-owned company, subscribes to all principles as espoused in the Constitution, which ensure a free and equal society.
“We are always ready to observe and defend the rights of all persons at the facilities we manage.”
Acsa urged airport users to report any incidents of unfair discrimination to its hotline on 0800 008 080 or email [email protected]
Cape Times