Dozens of cars left to gather dust at OR Tambo who’s responsible?

Cars left to decay in airport parking spark questions about ownership and removal

Dozens of vehicles have sat untouched in OR Tambo International Airport parking facilities for months and in some cases years covered in dust, with flat tyres and missing parts. The sight has raised questions about why owners do not retrieve their cars and what powers the airport has to remove unclaimed vehicles.

What’s on the ground

Between 40 and 50 vehicles are currently classified by Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) as abandoned at OR Tambo, although Acsa said the number fluctuates as staff monitor the parking area. The company said the longest recorded case of abandonment dates back to 2018.

How vehicles become abandoned

Acsa said abandoned vehicles arrive at the airport for different reasons. Some owners have reportedly left the country, others may be facing financial difficulties, and some simply never return to collect their cars. In cases where vehicles are still under finance agreements, Acsa said banks may intervene.

Legal and operational limits

Acsa told reporters that there is currently no formal time limit for how long a vehicle may remain parked before being flagged as abandoned. Staff monitor vehicles daily for signs such as heavy dust, flat tyres and unusually long stays.

“Acsa does not currently have the legal standing to claim ownership.”

The airport operator also confirmed it has no formal mechanism to remove or repurpose abandoned vehicles from its parking facilities but said it is developing a legal and operational framework to manage unclaimed cars in future.

Tracing owners and handling cases

Acsa said it works with the South African Police Service and financial institutions to trace owners and to check whether any vehicles may have been stolen. The company said that cases are dealt with individually and that some owners eventually return to collect their cars, often facing substantial parking bills.

“Each case is handled individually.”

OR Tambo’s parking facilities can accommodate about 11 500 vehicles, with thousands of vehicles moving through the airport daily. For now, many of the abandoned cars remain in place, quietly deteriorating beneath the constant movement of the airport above.