Courts & Legal
Airport security tender for South Africa’s biggest airports heads to court
South Africa’s airport operator is once again facing legal pressure after a major security contract covering the country’s three busiest international airports was taken to court.
The urgent high court application targets a new aviation security services tender issued by the Airports Company South Africa, commonly known as ACSA. The contract would provide security services at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, and King Shaka International Airport in Durban for the next five years.
For travellers and aviation insiders alike, the case adds another chapter to an already tense debate about how large public tenders are managed in the country.
A legal bid to pause the process
The application was filed by Eagle Eye Security Specialists, which is asking the court to stop ACSA from evaluating, awarding, or implementing the tender until a full judicial review is completed.
In court papers, the company argues that the structure of the tender process itself is flawed and could lead to an outcome that is neither fair nor legally compliant. The legal challenge relies on the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and the constitutional principle that public procurement must be lawful and rational.
According to the filing, several issues within the tender documentation could affect how bids are evaluated. Eagle Eye claims certain cost elements tied to aviation compliance are missing, while some pricing structures do not appear to account for key operational requirements.
The company also raised concerns about inconsistencies around which documents are mandatory for bidders, including proof of financial sustainability. At the same time, the tender reportedly places heavy emphasis on price in its evaluation process.
Questions around aviation security expertise
Another concern highlighted in the court papers relates to the experience required from bidders.
Eagle Eye argues that the tender appears to treat general national key point security experience as equal to specialised aviation security expertise. Aviation security is governed by strict international standards and procedures, and the company believes these differences are not properly reflected in the requirements.
In simple terms, the concern is that companies without specialised airport security experience could potentially compete on equal footing with those that have it.
Another procurement dispute for ACSA
The legal challenge arrived shortly after a separate security procurement dispute involving ACSA also ended up in court.
In that earlier case, Mafoko Security Patrols challenged the cancellation of a large “smart security” tender that involved advanced screening technology at airports. That contract had been expected to run into billions of rand before it was halted.
While the new case concerns a different tender, the repeated legal challenges have raised wider questions about how procurement processes are being handled.
Governance concerns raised by watchdogs
The Civil society group Organisation Against Tax Abuse has also weighed in on the issue.
According to OUTA chief executive Wayne Duvenage, the number of court challenges involving airport tenders is a warning sign about potential weaknesses in procurement oversight at the state-owned company.
Duvenage has pointed to a pattern often seen in public sector procurement disputes where tenders are cancelled, rewritten, or legally challenged due to alleged irregularities.
He has also called for stronger oversight, suggesting that an independent forensic investigation could reveal deeper problems within the procurement process.
ACSA responds cautiously
ACSA confirmed it had received the urgent court application but declined to comment on the allegations themselves.
Company spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe said the matter is now before the high court and will be addressed through the legal process.
Importantly, ACSA indicated that the procurement process has not progressed beyond its initial stage. The next steps in the tender process have not yet been initiated.
For now, the future of the aviation security contract remains uncertain as the courts decide whether the process can move forward.
Why airport security contracts matter
Security contracts at major international airports are among the most sensitive and high-value government procurements in the country.
Airports such as OR Tambo, Cape Town International, and King Shaka handle millions of passengers each year and must meet strict international aviation safety standards.
Because of the scale and security implications, contracts covering airport protection, screening, and surveillance often attract intense scrutiny from regulators, bidders, and watchdog organisations.
With the matter now in court, the outcome could shape not only the future of this tender but also how large aviation security contracts are structured and monitored in South Africa.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: dailynews.co.za
