Government annoyed about US terror alerts
“We have found the information to be dubious, unsubstantiated and provided by a 'walk-in' source based on questionable conclusions.”
The SA government is displeased with the way the US Embassy in Pretoria handled the terrorist alert on Saturday, 4 June.
The government said it “takes the threat of violent extremism and terrorism very seriously and it is a global phenomenon that no nation can claim immunity from”.
The government said their security agencies were in constant liaison with foreign intelligence services represented in South Africa and as a sovereign, peace-loving country it had always adopted a professional manner in communicating with countries on various issues.
“We are therefore displeased with the manner in which some countries have reciprocated. Their actions have been disingenuous and a cause for serious concern to our government.”
It said the information provided for the latest terror alerts on South Africa was “very sketchy”.
“We have found the information to be dubious, unsubstantiated and provided by a ‘walk-in’ source based on questionable conclusions.”
The government said it rejected the attempts by foreign countries to influence, manipulate or control South African’s counter-terrorism work.
“We reject attempts to generate perceptions of government ineptitude, alarmist impressions and public hysteria on the basis of a questionable single source.”
The statement said the government was fully capable of securing its country and protecting the people as well as foreign citizens visiting South Africa.
“We expect foreign embassies on our soil to follow the correct channels when communicating matters of such nature,” the government said.
The statement continued that South Africa valued the political, economic and social ties with these countries and would approach any discussion within the spirit of cooperation and international solidarity.
The government said the security of all people in the country remained top priority.
“The security services will continue to remain vigilant at all times”
If any problem arose in the country government would be the first to inform the public about any great threat.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Race Relations said South Africa is not immune from the terror attack threats.
CEO Frans Cronje the South African security agencies were misleading when saying there was no terror link or threat in the country.
“The type of attacks that played themselves out most recently in France and Belgium are very difficult to prevent and it is that type of attack – a relatively isolated incident carried out by a small group of extremists with simple weaponry against a prominent target – which South Africa is also vulnerable to.”
There were examples of terror suspects being in possession of South African passports, he said.
“There is also no security agency anywhere in the world that could provide an assurance that a specific country faces no terror threat. Terror is a global threat and as security measure in Western democracies are strengthened, scenarios that see Western-aligned targets being attacked in third party countries become more likely,” Coronje said.
Also read:
State security to monitor terror alert
United States warns of attacks in SA
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