By Joshua Howat Berger (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s international airports have a notorious reputation for baggage theft, but officials say they have cracked down on pilfering and boosted security ahead of the World Cup.

Airports Company South Africa has spent 165 million rands (21 million dollars, 17 million euros) upgrading security ahead of the June 11 kick-off, including electronic bag scanners meant to cut down on luggage theft.

That will be put to the test this week as 300,000 World Cup fans begin arriving in South Africa, with about one third of them landing just on Wednesday and Thursday, according to South African football officials.

“Three years ago, we used to have about 40 cases of theft reported per day,” said Tebogo Mekgoe, the assistant general manager at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, the busiest in the country.

He acknowledged the airport had acquired a “pretty bad” reputation for theft, with international travellers often warned of baggage handlers’ sticky fingers. The US embassy website calls theft at OR Tambo a “serious problem” and encourages travellers to secure their luggage with locks approved by the air safety agency. Britain’s embassy recommends vacuum-wrapping checked bags in plastic when travelling to South Africa — a service offered in most departure terminals.

But Mekgoe said the airport authority has reduced luggage theft to “almost nothing” by hiring all new baggage handlers, creating a “baggage reaction team” and switching to electronic scanners that track bags from check-in to loading on the plane.

“This new technology has remarkably reduced cases of pilferage,” Mekgoe told reporters.

He said OR Tambo had not received a single baggage theft complaint during last year’s Confederations Cup, a warm-up tournament for the World Cup.

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Published May 18, 2010

As I arrived at the newly renovated O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on my way to the Indaba travel trade show in early May, I encountered local people standing to greet and assist visitors. I suddenly realized that I was seeing the final dress rehearsal for South Africa as it prepares to meet the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

This year’s Indaba was the climax of the six-year build up to the World Cup, scheduled to take place only June 11 through July 11, only a month after the trade show. Ever since 2004, when South Africa won its bid to host the world soccer (football) championship, its tourism industry has been preparing diligently for the event. The World Cup has been the main theme of every Indaba, and now that the anticipated tournament is practically here, the emphasis of Indaba, South Africa Tourism and the country itself was “We are ready.”
I flew to South Africa for the first time on South African Airways’ newly scheduled nonstop flight from New York JFK to Johannesburg. It leaves in the morning, instead of early evening as before. That schedule allows the flight to arrive in Johannesburg in the morning instead of the evening, and opens many more connections without a stay over in Johannesburg. Equally important for me was the fact that the New York-Johannesburg route no longer stops at Dakar on the west coast of Africa, as it did before, which greatly eases the trip. The whole flight took roughly 15 hours.
The return flight from Johannesburg to New York JFK still stops in Dakar, but South African Airways (SAA) says it is working on a way to provide nonstop service on that leg as well. SAA’s new CEO, Siza Mzimela, told attendees at Indaba that the airline has taken substantial steps to prepare for the challenges of moving the lion’s share of the estimated 300,000 visitors to the World Cup. “We are more than ready for the World Cup,” she said. “We’ve geared up so we’re able to run a 24-hour operation on certain days. We’ve improved our aircraft availability and made sure we have better aircraft.” SAA has added staff in its cabin crews, check-in desks, baggage handling and call centers.
Indeed, there is new infrastructure throughout South Africa. New airports and many stadiums have been built. I landed in Durban at its brand new King Shaka Airport, which still smelled of fresh paint and freshly poured concrete. During the conference I was able to visit the new Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, an architectural marvel with a dramatic spine over the top that supports the sides with cables similar to a suspension bridge.
The energy in the air at Indaba seemed to audibly crackle as I walked through its several pavilions, each packed with travel exhibitors. With Durban, South Africa’s version of Miami Beach, as its tropically festive setting, the show brings together a wide diversity of people and businesses gathered for a common purpose. And the cumulative energy it produces is almost startling.

Read the full article at TravelPulse.com

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With effect from Tuesday 03 March, South African passport holders will require a visa in order to visit or transit the United Kingdom. However, until mid-2009, South African nationals who have previously traveled to the UK on their current passport will be exempt from the visa requirement. This decision follows a global review of the UK’s pre-entry immigration controls and reflects the UK government’s commitment to strengthen its borders.

Commenting on the development, the British High Commissioner, the Rt Hon Paul Boateng said:

“The introduction of a visa requirement is in no way a reflection of any deterioration in our continuing and strong relationship with South Africa. The maintenance of warm and friendly relations and the close links between our two countries remains of paramount importance.

We are committed to continuing to welcome South Africans travelling for legitimate reasons to the UK. The UK remains a favourite destination for both business and tourism for South Africans and will continue to be so. Our aim is to provide a first class service to all. Visas will provide added security and protection for travellers to the UK.

This, together with the introduction of biometrics, will ultimately provide a safer and better experience for the ordinary travelling public.”

An extensive informational packet can be downloaded HERE.