Between 2023 and 2026, 1,823 baggage theft cases were formally registered at OR Tambo, Cape Town, and King Shaka international airports. Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia reported that OR Tambo accounted for the highest volume of these incidents, with 1,369 cases recorded over the three-year period, according to BusinessTech. The figures reflect only formally registered case dockets, excluding unreported losses or matters handled internally by airlines and airport operators.
Theft Reporting Discrepancies Across Major Airports
Data reporting methods differ significantly between South Africa’s primary aviation hubs. According to BusinessTech, OR Tambo International Airport categorizes all baggage-related theft and pilferage under general theft dockets to avoid double-counting. Conversely, Cape Town and King Shaka international airports record baggage pilferage—the theft of items from checked luggage—as separate incidents from general theft.
Data from the three-year period indicates that while OR Tambo recorded 1,369 general theft cases, Cape Town reported 306 general theft cases and 241 instances of baggage pilferage. King Shaka recorded 148 general theft cases and 105 pilferage incidents. The Star reported that across all three hubs, annual theft cases declined from 631 in the 2023/2024 financial year to 586 in the 2025/2026 period. Specifically, during 2023/2024, there were 128 separately identifiable baggage handling and pilfering cases recorded, including 90 at Cape Town and 38 at King Shaka. In 2024/2025, 93 such incidents were recorded, with 67 at Cape Town and 26 at King Shaka. By 2025/2026, those figures rose to 125 total incidents, comprising 84 at Cape Town and 41 at King Shaka.
Narcotics Smuggling and Security Trends
While baggage theft remains a concern, parliamentary data highlights a rise in narcotics-related activity. The Star reported that 117 narcotics-smuggling cases were registered across the three airports between 2023 and 2026. OR Tambo recorded the majority of these, with 24 cases in 2023/2024, 37 in 2024/2025, and 45 in the 2025/2026 financial year. Cape Town recorded four cases in both 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, and three in 2025/2026. Other security incidents, including armed robberies and hijackings, remained rare or isolated during this timeframe.
Coordinated Prevention Strategies
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.
The intervention covers the entire baggage lifecycle, from check-in and conveyor systems to aircraft loading and reclaim facilities. While ACSA monitors restricted areas through increased CCTV surveillance and physical security patrols, the ministry clarified that airlines remain the legal custodians of checked luggage. Consequently, airlines hold primary responsibility for processing claims and compensating passengers for losses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for compensating passengers for stolen luggage?
The airline serves as the legal custodian of checked baggage throughout transit. According to Minister Barbara Creecy, the airline is responsible for handling investigations and providing passenger compensation if theft is established.
Does ACSA provide financial compensation for baggage theft?
ACSA does not provide direct financial compensation to passengers unless specific liability on the part of the airport operator is proven. The company instead supports the claims process by providing security footage and access logs to the police and airlines.
Why do the theft statistics vary so much between airports?
The variation is largely due to administrative reporting differences. BusinessTech reports that OR Tambo bundles all baggage-related incidents under general theft dockets, whereas Cape Town and King Shaka track pilferage as a separate category.