OR Tambo International Airport: Has Africa’s pride become Gauteng’s gangster paradise?
There was a time when travelling through OR Tambo International Airport was a source of pride. It represented South Africa’s ambition, Africa’s growing international influence and the promise of a continent opening its doors to the world.
Today, that pride is increasingly being replaced by frustration and a disturbing question: Is OR Tambo becoming a gateway to organised baggage theft rather than a gateway to Africa?
On three of my last four flights involving OR Tambo, my baggage was tampered with. That is 75% of my recent journeys. I cannot identify who interfered with my luggage or where it happened. However, the repeated incidents raise serious concerns about security and accountability. Passengers should not have to become investigators after entrusting their belongings to an international airport and its airline partners.
Nor is this merely one traveller’s frustration.
On 13 October 2026, BusinessTech reported that police records showed 1 369 baggage theft cases registered at OR Tambo between 2023 and 2026, the highest number among South Africa’s three major international airports.
These figures demand answers. How effectively are incidents investigated, and what is being done to prevent further theft? Above all, why should passengers believe their next suitcase will be safe?
Twenty counters, two immigration officials
Baggage security is only half the story.
For approximately six months, my experience of international immigration at OR Tambo has been one of repeated frustration. On some occasions, I have seen only two counters operating for foreign visitors. At best, I have personally witnessed four operating in an area with about 20 available positions.
Travellers are left queuing while much of the apparent processing capacity remains unused. This is hardly a welcoming experience for international visitors on whom South Africa’s tourism industry depends.
Officials have pointed to electronic passport processing arrangements and the limited number of electronic processing points. But if electronic facilities are underused while passengers face lengthy queues, why are manual counters not adequately staffed?
Technology should improve efficiency, not become an excuse for failing to provide a basic immigration service.
On 12 August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation system at OR Tambo, presenting it as part of a more modern and welcoming approach to international travel.
The ambition is commendable. But technological announcements mean little if the passenger experience does not improve. A modern airport must be judged by the services it delivers, not merely the systems it launches.
Oliver Tambo deserves better
On 27 October 2006, Johannesburg International Airport was renamed in honour of Oliver Reginald Tambo, one of Africa’s great political leaders and international statesmen. As the airport approaches the 20th anniversary of that renaming, we should ask whether it is honouring his legacy.
Tambo represented dignity, international cooperation and African pride. The experiences described here raise an uncomfortable question: is the institution entrusted with carrying his name diminishing it?
Perhaps it is time for another name change. South Africa has developed an enthusiasm for renaming streets, towns and public institutions. Why not call it Gauteng’s Gangster Paradise International Airport?
The suggestion is deliberately provocative. I would much rather see the airport earn the right to retain its distinguished name. But satire becomes tempting when frustration persists.
Tourists create jobs. Why are they treated like an inconvenience?
Every international visitor contributes to an economic ecosystem supporting airlines, hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport companies, retailers and countless small businesses.
Tourism creates jobs. Business travel attracts investment. International connections strengthen Africa’s economic future.
An airport often provides a visitor’s first and last impression of a country. When that experience involves lengthy immigration queues and concerns about the security of personal belongings, confidence suffers.
Tourists are not an inconvenience to be processed. They are customers of the South African economy, and their experience matters.
Accountability must follow
Airport management, the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority, airlines, baggage handlers and the South African Police Service all have roles to play in addressing these concerns.
Passengers need effective security, adequately staffed immigration counters, transparent investigations and measurable improvements in service. They should not have to accept persistent problems as the price of international travel.
OR Tambo is a vital aviation gateway for Southern Africa and beyond. Many travellers use Johannesburg to connect with other African destinations and the wider world. Its performance therefore affects not only South Africa’s reputation but also international perceptions of African travel and hospitality.
The answer is not another name change. It is action that restores confidence in one of the continent’s most important international gateways.
Oliver Tambo’s name deserves respect. So do the travellers passing through the airport that bears it.
South Africa has the opportunity to restore pride in this gateway. The question is whether those responsible will act before these concerns become its defining reputation.
*This opinion piece was submitted by a frustrated frequent international traveller.
