Aviation News South Africa

Why Acsa has suspended 78 retail tenders across nine airports

In light of a recent court judgement, Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has suspended evaluation of tenders for 78 retail store opportunities across its nine airports.
Why Acsa has suspended 78 retail tenders across nine airports
© rawpixel via 123RF

The retail opportunities are in existing retail spaces where contracts have expired and require new tender processes. These include food and beverage (26), fashion apparel (21), speciality stores (27), curios (2) and foreign exchange (2).

The tenders will be for retail spaces at O. R. Tambo International Airport (31), Cape Town International Airport (23) and King Shaka International Airport (15). A further nine opportunities are spread across Port Elizabeth, East London and George airports.

With regards to the judgement, Justice Phillip Coppin found that a tender published in 2017 by the company for car hire concessions was unlawful and invalid for being inconsistent with the Constitution. The judgment said that Acsa had failed to apply section 217 of the Constitution and the framework legislation envisaged in that section.

Acsa says it remains resolutely committed to implementing official policy with respect to facilitating transformation through its procurement practices, but equally committed to carrying this out within the law.

Acsa will advise bidders of the next steps once it has further considered the way forward.

Let's do Biz