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Johannesburg - Samsung is installing exchange kiosks at airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban after the 'exploding' Note 7 phone has been banned from several airlines.
“In support of the global recall and banning of Galaxy Note 7 devices from flights, Samsung South Africa is implementing a seamless and efficient exchange programme with exchange kiosks at major local airports,” a statement from Samsung South Africa said on Thursday afternoon.
The kiosks are planned to be installed at international airports in the country’s three major cities - Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town - as a ”precautionary measure” amid exploding battery reports globally.
If found in possession of a Note 7, passengers could face up to a R2.5m fine at some of the world’s airports.
READ: Travelling with a Note 7? You could face a R2.5m fine
The Galaxy Note 7, touted to be the South Korean company’s best smartphone to date, was initially scheduled for release in South Africa on November 3. But last week Samsung announced that production of the device would be killed amid a string of explosion reports across the globe.
Craige Fleischer, a director at Samsung South Africa, said that although the Galaxy Note 7 had not been launched in South Africa, the company was aware that a small number of consumers managed to acquire a Note 7 device by either buying it overseas or through parallel imports.
READ: SAA warns of fines for passengers carrying Note 7
“The safety of our customers and those passengers travelling by air remains a priority for us and we would like to emphasise that this ban and recall only affects the Galaxy Note 7 device," said Fleischer.
“It does not apply to the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge, previous Galaxy Note smartphones or any other Samsung Galaxy devices,” he said.
The device can be identified by its model number “model number: SM - N930” differentiating it from the the Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge, he further explained.
READ: Samsung SA confirms Note 7 is dead
“Customers who own or have a Galaxy Note7 in their possession will not be able to board a plane if they have the device on them in person, in carry-on baggage or in checked baggage,” he said.
“We making a friendly request to all travellers who might be in possession of a Galaxy Note7 to participate in the exchange program and to visit the Samsung exchange kiosks at the various airports prior to booking in for their flight,” Fleischer added.
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