Gunship
31st Jan 2003, 23:08
Johannesburg - The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) dismissed its head of aviation security on Friday owing to "irreconcilable differences" between him and the company.
Acsa spokesperson Charmaine Lodewyk said in a brief statement the services of Paul O'Sullivan, group executive for aviation security, had been terminated with immediate effect.
Acsa had attempted to reconcile the differences between itself and O'Sullivan, but had not been successful. The company would not make any further comment, she said.
O'Sullivan has been in the crossfire several times during his career with Acsa. In mid-2001 there were three robberies at Johannesburg International Airport within one month.
Some weeks later, Acsa announced a "crime crackdown", to be run by O'Sullivan, but December of that same year saw a R115m cargo heist in the no-go "airside" area at Johannesburg International.
In February last year, O'Sullivan was suspended along with another Acsa official after they had allegedly ignored security measures during a private flight from Lanseria to Johannesburg International.
In August last year, airport security was in the news again when police commissioner Jackie Selebi was said to have told an airport official that he had a bomb in his bag.
No significant action appeared to have been taken. Selebi denied the allegations and threatened legal action.
Barely a week later the Civil Aviation Authority told Acsa to rectify problems in its security system after a security check was run and two "bombs" got past security checkpoints to the airside area at Johannesburg International.
Acsa spokesperson Charmaine Lodewyk said in a brief statement the services of Paul O'Sullivan, group executive for aviation security, had been terminated with immediate effect.
Acsa had attempted to reconcile the differences between itself and O'Sullivan, but had not been successful. The company would not make any further comment, she said.
O'Sullivan has been in the crossfire several times during his career with Acsa. In mid-2001 there were three robberies at Johannesburg International Airport within one month.
Some weeks later, Acsa announced a "crime crackdown", to be run by O'Sullivan, but December of that same year saw a R115m cargo heist in the no-go "airside" area at Johannesburg International.
In February last year, O'Sullivan was suspended along with another Acsa official after they had allegedly ignored security measures during a private flight from Lanseria to Johannesburg International.
In August last year, airport security was in the news again when police commissioner Jackie Selebi was said to have told an airport official that he had a bomb in his bag.
No significant action appeared to have been taken. Selebi denied the allegations and threatened legal action.
Barely a week later the Civil Aviation Authority told Acsa to rectify problems in its security system after a security check was run and two "bombs" got past security checkpoints to the airside area at Johannesburg International.