Deputy Minister of State Security Zizi Kodwa says there is no terrorist threat in South Africa, despite numerous reports confirming the mobility of lovers terrorism in this country.
The country was placed on high alert on Wednesday after the US Embassy in South Africa issued a warning about a possible terrorist attack in Sandton on May 29-30. 10. Although it did not give details, the embassy warned US citizens to stay away from the area and avoid crowds.
Several other embassies in the country, including those from the UK, France, Canada, Germany and Australia, have followed their own warnings to their citizens based on the US warnings. Ky.
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The South African government’s response has been mixed, with Presidential Palace Minister Mondli Gungubele saying he was unaware of any terrorist threat – and criminal and investigative agencies saying they were investigation into the origin of the allegation.
The President’s official response was that they “take note” of the US warning, but downplayed its severity, saying that “if necessary, the South African government will be the first to notify the public. of any impending threat”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa called the warning “regrettable”, adding that it had caused panic among the population.
Speaking at an event in Pretoria organized by the National Press Club on Thursday night (October 28), Kodwa repeated the official line from the President’s Office that the South African government had not received a diploma. evidence of an impending terrorist attack.
He said the warning had caused a lot of anxiety and panic, but made it clear that “from the point of view of the SSA – the State Security Service – there is no direct terrorist threat to ‘ South Africa”.
He said the US warning broke protocol and could cause a significant diplomatic breakdown between the two countries as it eroded South Africa’s sovereignty and caused panic among the population.
Although he sees no cause for concern, Kodwa said the government will not let its guard down.
High Alert
Businesses in Sandton and the City of Joburg are on high alert following the alert.
As events planned for the weekend continue and businesses in the City of Sandton will remain open and continue as normal, additional precautions are being taken.
Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse said the US Consul General in Johannesburg Vincent Spera had contacted her to inform him of the embassy’s detection of a potential attack in the city.
“To ensure that the city is fully informed and prepared for any eventuality, I spoke with the Commissioner of the South African Gauteng Provincial Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, requesting that all information and all information will be shared with the City,” she said.
” The Provincial Commissioner has assured me that the necessary measures have been taken and nothing will happen. Chief risk advisor at the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) Christopher Palm said whether the terrorist threat materializes or not, companies in the affected area – Sandton – should take the matter seriously.have important conversations about what to do when one situations with the potential for violence and danger e or may become the same.”
Senior Training Coordinator for the Institute for Security Studies ENACT, Willem Els, said the matter This should be treated as a bomb threat. He said: “Even if governments deny the existence of an active threat, they should take the necessary steps to minimize damage and harm.
Els said South Africa has proven it failed to effectively manage security and intelligence threats, which may be why the US Embassy skipped the process to wait for the South Vietnamese government Phi replied.
He said that foreign missions have a duty to take care of their citizens. “We know that some foreign missions have caught on to this – if we (South Africa) receive credible threats in other countries, we will follow the same path.” (issues a warning),” he declared.
