‘We want proof’: SA puzzled by UK’s ‘unfounded’ claims of a ‘possible terror attack’

By News24.com

• The UK has warned its citizens that terrorists are likely to carry out attacks in South Africa.
• The UK government warned British travellers that South Africa was not a desirable country to visit due to crime, load shedding, kidnappings and the rise in attacks on tourists. 
• Pretoria says it is waiting for the foreign office to provide proof for these “unfounded” claims.

PRETORIA: International relations department director-general Zane Dangor is puzzled by the UK’s “strange” claims about the possibility of a terrorist attack on South African soil.

Dangor said he was waiting for the foreign office to provide proof for the “unfounded” allegations.

In the travel alert, which was updated on 4 January 2024 and is still in place, the UK’s foreign office warned its citizens: “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in South Africa. The main threat is from individuals who may have been inspired by terrorist groups, including Daesh, and who may carry out ‘lone actor’ attacks.”

These terrorist attacks, the office warned, could take place at high-profile events, or at shopping centres, tourist sites and crowded places.

But Dangor hit back at the claims: “We asked them: ‘Where does this credible threat come from?’ They still have not given us a proper explanation. There is no evidence why we would be a target for a terror attack, and we are saying if you have credible information, give it to us, which they have not done.”

He said the UK had failed to follow diplomatic channels to communicate concerns.

“The UK has never done this before. They update their advisory, but they do not include unverified data, so we are not sure how they have done that. Normally, in these cases, the intelligence services engage with one another, but none of that has happened,” he added.

The UK’s alert stated: “The current conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has led to heightened tensions around the world. Terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda and Daesh, have called on their supporters to carry out terrorist attacks in response to the conflict.

“The conflict could also motivate individuals to carry out attacks. Terrorist attacks could target Jewish or Muslim communities, or the interests of Israel and its allies. Attacks could also be indiscriminate and occur without warning.”

A British High Commission spokesperson told News24:

The office did not provide proof for its allegations.

The warning comes as South Africa’s State Security Agency is without a director-general, following Thembisile Majola’s resignation in November last year.

Experts are divided on the UK’s warning, with some saying they believe it is an “attempt by the UK government to muzzle South Africa” for its stance on the Russia/Ukraine war, and the Israel and Palestine conflict in the Middle East.

Others believe there is a legitimate threat of an act of terrorism against South Africa because of geopolitical tensions.

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News24 has established that a terrorist attack against South Africa is at the top of the country’s intelligence agencies’ list of concerns.

A trusted source told News24 that although he could not say when, he believed an attack against South Africa was “imminent”.

“We are indeed in trouble, and that is because of the lack of resources and skills from the State Security Agency’s side, which is primarily responsible for these matters.”

The source said jihadist group “ISIS is very much active here in South Africa”.

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News24 understands that money laundering, the financing of terror activities and recruitment activities are taking place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Intelligence circles are also aware of “fearmongering tactics” used by foreign countries.

“They are indeed concerned, yes. But they also discount it as scare tactics and fearmongering. Remember, ISIS threated South Africa a while ago saying if they mess with the activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then they would deal with South Africa.

“And then we had troops from the SANDF (SA National Defence Force) sent there, and our troops destroyed one of the ISIS strongholds.”

Security expert Ryan Cummings agreed, saying two main threats stem from South Africa’s involvement in counter-terrorism operations on the continent and heightened global tensions due to the dynamics in Gaza.

“We have SANDF soldiers who are deployed in Mozambique and are fighting an Islamic state affiliate, and now we have South African soldiers who have been deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“So, what the Islamic State has done recently, we saw in Russia, for example, is that they have undertaken acts of terrorism in retaliation to countries that are actively participating in counter-terrorism operations against the group or its affiliates. The Islamic State had previously threatened South Africa, specifically for deploying troops to Mozambique, and [said it] would bring the insurgency to the door of South Africa.”