1,823 baggage theft cases at South Africa’s major airports

Over the past three years, there have been 1,823 reported cases of baggage theft at South Africa’s major airports, which include OR Tambo, King Shaka, and Cape Town International.

The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, mentioned that most of these cases related to general baggage theft.

BusinessTech reported that the 1,823 theft cases include all criminal theft incidents formally registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) across the three major airports during this period. 

OR Tambo International Airport had the most baggage theft cases, with 1,369 incidents reported from 2023 to 2026.

All baggage-related theft cases at this airport are classified as general theft in the airport’s documentation.

In comparison, Cape Town and King Shaka airports record these incidents separately. 

Cape Town International Airport recorded 306 baggage theft cases over the last three years, significantly fewer than at OR Tambo. 

King Shaka International Airport recorded 148 cases of formal general baggage theft during the same period.

Baggage pilferage, which is the illegal act of stealing personal items from a passenger’s checked luggage during transit, is not included in the 1,823 theft count for Cape Town and King Shaka airports. 

In the past three years, Cape Town Airport has reported 241 cases of baggage pilferage, while King Shaka Airport recorded 105 cases in the same timeframe.

SAPS highlighted that these figures only reflect formally reported and registered cases and exclude unreported luggage losses, items managed internally by airlines, and investigations conducted by airport operators.

Officials join forces to monitor luggage theft at major airports

To tackle luggage baggage theft at airports, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the Ministry of Transport have joined forces to monitor and prevent theft patterns. 

ACSA created a working group focused on preventing baggage pilferage, collaborating with the Airline Operators Committee (AOC), the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa (BARSA), and SAPS.

“The Working Group provides a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach to identifying, mitigating, and monitoring baggage pilferage risks across the end-to-end baggage handling process,” said the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy.

Creecy said that the new strategy’s scope includes oversight and intervention in various areas, such as:

• Passenger check-in and baggage drop-off areas.
• Baggage sorting, processing, and conveyor systems.
• Baggage screening and security control points.
• Aircraft loading and unloading operations.
• Baggage reclaim facilities.
• Inter-terminal baggage transfers.
• Staff access controls and movement within restricted areas.
• Contractor and third-party personnel involved in baggage handling operations.

Creecy said that airlines are mainly responsible for handling investigations, processing claims, and compensating passengers when luggage is lost. 

This is because they are legally responsible for checked bags during transit, even if they use contracted ground-handling services. 

Although ACSA does not manage baggage claims directly, Creecy mentioned that it helps by implementing security measures, such as reviewing CCTV footage and access logs with the police, airlines, and ground handlers when there’s a suspicion of criminal activity.

Creecy said ACSA conducts security reviews to identify weaknesses in baggage-handling areas. 

Other ways that ACSA can assist is by reducing access barriers, increasing security patrols, expanding camera surveillance, and conducting staff inspections.

She said that it also helps SAPS with investigations and supports internal disciplinary actions.

Creecy highlighted that ACSA does not directly compensate passengers unless they can prove specific liability on the part of the airport operator. 

If negligence, theft, or liability is found involving an airline, ground handler, or staff member, ACSA works with partners to assist passengers through claims, investigations, coordination, and necessary disciplinary actions.