By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy Minister of State Security Zizi Kodwa says the US alert that a terrorist attack could unfold in Sandton this weekend, created anxiety and did not follow the protocols SA would have.
The country was put on high alert on Wednesday after the US embassy in South Africa issued an alert warning of a possible terrorist attack in Sandton on 29 and 30 October. While no details were given, the embassy warned US citizens to steer clear of the area and avoid crowds.
Several other embassies in the country, including the UK, French, Canadian, German and Australian missions, followed suit with their own warnings to their citizens based on the US alert.
The reaction from the South African government was one of confusion, with the minister in the presidency, Mondli Gungubele saying that he was not aware of any terrorist threat – and crime and investigation authorities saying they were investigating the source of the claim.
The official response from the presidency was that it has “noted” the US alert but downplayed its seriousness, saying, “should the need arise, the South African government will be the first to inform the public about any imminent threat.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa also weighed in on the matter calling the alert “unfortunate”, adding that it caused panic among the population.
Speaking at an event in Pretoria hosted by the National Press Club on Thursday evening (28 October), Kodwa repeated the official line from the office of the presidency that the South African government has not been presented with any evidence of an imminent terrorist attack.
Kodwa stated categorically that “from the SSA – State Security Agency – point of view, there is no direct terror threat to South Africa.”
He said that the US alert broke protocol and could cause significant diplomatic fallout between the two nations, as it undercut South Africa’s sovereignty and caused panic among the population.
Despite not seeing any cause for concern, Kodwa said the government wasn’t lowering its guard.
Kodwa focused on several other issues affecting South Africa. These included cybercrime, illegal mining, politically motivated killings, corruption and terrorism.
He said threats to the country were being assessed on a continual basis.
Kodwa also spoke about broader plans for the State Security Agency, saying it was being changed to be “more human-centric”.
Businesses in Sandton and the City of Joburg authorities are on high alert following the warning.
While events planned for the weekend are continuing and businesses at Sandton City will remain open and continue as normal, extra precautions are being taken.
Joburg mayor, Mpho Phalatse, said that the United States Consul-General in Johannesburg, Vincent Spera, contacted her to inform her of the embassy’s detection of a potential attack in the city.
“In order to ensure that the City is well-informed and prepared for any eventuality, I have spoken with the Gauteng Provincial South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, requesting that any and all information and intelligence be shared with the City,” she said.
“The Provincial Commissioner has assured me that the necessary measures have been put in place and that nothing will be left to chance.”
Chief Risk Advisor at the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) Christopher Palm said that whether the terrorist threat is realised or not, businesses in the affected region – Sandton – should take the matter seriously.
He suggested that a risk response strategy be considered by organisations, “as it does no harm having the crucial conversations about knowing what to do when a situation is potentially violent and dangerous or could turn the same.”
Senior Training Coordinator at ENACT Programme at the Institute for Security Studies, Willem Els, said that the matter should be treated like a bomb scare. Even if the government rejects that there is an active threat, it should take the necessary measures to mitigate damage and harm, he said.
Els said that South Africa has demonstrated that it does not handle intelligence and security threats effectively, which is likely why the US embassy side-stepped protocol to wait for the South African government to respond.