GOVERNMENT said in a statement on Wednesday that it is displeased with how the threat of violent extremism and terrorism has been handled. Over the weekend, the US embassy in South Africa, issued an alert that it had received information that terror groups were planning to carry out near-term attacks in the country.
“South Africa as a sovereign, peace-loving country has always adopted a professional manner in engaging with other countries on these 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,” a joint statement from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the State Security Agency said on Wednesday.
According to the alert the attacks would target places where US citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Britain then revised their travel alert following the US terror alert.
Government said the information provided as a basis for the latest terror alerts on South Africa has been found to be very sketchy.
“On closer examination, we have found the information to be dubious, unsubstantiated and provided by a “walk-in” source based on questionable conclusions. 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 government is fully capable of securing the country, protecting people and taking care of the safety of foreign citizens on its soil. It added security of all people in South Africa remains its top priority.
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