SATAWU is extremely concerned about a second occurrence of contraband trafficking within weeks of the trafficking of cocaine and dagga allegedly by South African Airways cabin crew. This situation cannot be allowed to continue as it is highly embarrassing to our country, our people, the airline, all its employees who execute their duties on a daily basis with honesty and integrity. Given the recent negative publicity around perceptions and allegations around the CEO with regard to conflict of interests and procurement irregularities, now these allegations perpetuate the negative publicity.

SATAWU will call for an urgent meeting with the Board and the acting CEO to discuss interventions to stop crime and corruption in the airport environment.

SATAWU views it as very important that a joint anti crime and corruption campaign must be launched at all airports with a huge focus on OR Tambo international airport.

SATAWU believes that we confronting a serious challenge of international organized crime syndicates involving many stakeholders including employees in the crime chain.

SATAWU is therefore calling for an intensified effort by all law enforcement agencies and airport stakeholders including labour to root out crime and corruption in the long term.

SATAWU calls on all its members and employees not to be attracted or incentivized through money by criminals operating at airports on a daily basis and thereby compromise their employment and personal reputations and bringing SAA into public embarrassment. The above mentioned joint campaign must be specifically targeted at employee orientation to encourage them desisting from becoming involved in such criminal activities.

SATAWU however believes that the majority of its members and employees are persons of integrity whose work ethic is of high quality and should continue to do so.   

Statement issued by SATAWU general secretary, Randall Howard, February 17 2009