Operations at O.R. Tambo International Airport are back to normal following a surprise decision by a number of immigration officials, employed by the Department of Home Affairs, not to show up for duty early this morning.
Most officials were on duty since the public sector strike began last week and were not expected to join.
However, the Department’s contingency measures were immediately effected in order to minimise the impact on passenger processing. By 10am, the airport had handled some 54 international flights, 31 arriving and 23 departing. Only one Air Namibia flight was delayed by about 45 minutes while others were all on schedule.
“At this stage passenger processing in the international terminal is progressing smoothly. We are pleased with the speed at which the Department of Home Affairs responded the moment it became clear that most of their staff were not on duty,” says Solomon Makgale, ACSA’s communications manager.
At Cape Town and Durban International airports immigrations officials were on duty.
ACSA will continue monitoring the situation and advise travellers accordingly.
_____________________________________________________
For enquiries, contact: Solomon Makgale
Communications Manager
Airports Company South Africa
Tel: 011 921 6087 / 082 781 8863
E-mail: solomon.makgale@airports.co.za
