It's about time they clamped dow on this absurdity.
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Airport security inconsistent
http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Letters/0,,2-2127-2129_2120961,00.html
Dear Editor,
Recent announcements in the press of increased security measures at our airports have been noted with interest. Unfortunately the screening of passengers leaves much to be desired.
I became aware of a problem early in January, when I passed through OR Tambo Airport. A large number of veiled passengers were in the airport, having come back from a pilgrimage. I enquired at the check-in desk as to whether these passengers were being positively identified. The answer I got from one airline was that they had specific instructions not to identify these people, other than looking at their ID documents.
Security personnel at the airport were even less concerned. They reckoned it was not their responsibility: The various airlines were supposed to do the necessary.
During April I used OR Tambo twice, and nothing had changed. Mango personnel simply laughed at my suggestion that people aught to be identified positively. The ACSA security supervisor told me these people wear their veils for religious reasons, and therefore pose no threat.
When I suggested that next time I would come wearing a balaclava, he said, no, that would not be acceptable because my intentions would then obviously not be above board. I have been checking my facts over and over, in Cape Town, George and Johannesburg airports.
In one instance Kulula managed to dig out a letter instructing personnel to identify veiled passengers, but not one of their personnel was even aware of the letter until that moment. I will be flying again soon, and will once again do some spot checks.
Strangely enough, I also visited Qatar in April, and there I found that passengers wearing veils were checked routinely by ground staff. They had to lift their veils every time they passed a checkpoint
I find it amazing that airport personnel find time to check one?s nail files, liquids carried etc, and do not consider it necessary to check the identity of veiled passengers. It would be interesting to get the official policy of ACSA in this regard.
I for one am not happy with the present situation.
Concerned Citizen
Cape Town
-----------------
Airport security inconsistent
http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Letters/0,,2-2127-2129_2120961,00.html
Dear Editor,
Recent announcements in the press of increased security measures at our airports have been noted with interest. Unfortunately the screening of passengers leaves much to be desired.
I became aware of a problem early in January, when I passed through OR Tambo Airport. A large number of veiled passengers were in the airport, having come back from a pilgrimage. I enquired at the check-in desk as to whether these passengers were being positively identified. The answer I got from one airline was that they had specific instructions not to identify these people, other than looking at their ID documents.
Security personnel at the airport were even less concerned. They reckoned it was not their responsibility: The various airlines were supposed to do the necessary.
During April I used OR Tambo twice, and nothing had changed. Mango personnel simply laughed at my suggestion that people aught to be identified positively. The ACSA security supervisor told me these people wear their veils for religious reasons, and therefore pose no threat.
When I suggested that next time I would come wearing a balaclava, he said, no, that would not be acceptable because my intentions would then obviously not be above board. I have been checking my facts over and over, in Cape Town, George and Johannesburg airports.
In one instance Kulula managed to dig out a letter instructing personnel to identify veiled passengers, but not one of their personnel was even aware of the letter until that moment. I will be flying again soon, and will once again do some spot checks.
Strangely enough, I also visited Qatar in April, and there I found that passengers wearing veils were checked routinely by ground staff. They had to lift their veils every time they passed a checkpoint
I find it amazing that airport personnel find time to check one?s nail files, liquids carried etc, and do not consider it necessary to check the identity of veiled passengers. It would be interesting to get the official policy of ACSA in this regard.
I for one am not happy with the present situation.
Concerned Citizen
Cape Town
