By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The US State Department designated four members of an Islamic State cell in South Africa and eight companies run or controlled by them for providing support to the terrorist group.
In a statement, On 7 November, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that the cell has been operating within South African borders and providing technical, financial, or material support to the terrorist organisation.
Recent United Nations Security Council reports show that ISIS continues its expansion across Africa.
“Treasury is targeting key individuals in ISIS’s network in South Africa, as well as their business assets, who have played pivotal roles in enabling terrorism and other criminal activities in the region,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
“The United States, as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, will continue to partner with South Africa to deny ISIS the ability to exploit the country’s economy to raise and move funds to support the growth of ISIS affiliates and networks.”
The Treasury is designating these individuals and entities pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended, which targets terrorist groups, their supporters, and associated assets.
The parties involved include the cell leader Farhad Hoomer, and brothers Nufael Akbar and Yunus Akbar, who have, according to the US, collaborated with Hoomer, who has shown intent to attack the US and its allies. Other associates of Hoomer, Mohamad Akbar and Umar Akbar, have also been sanctioned.
Business associates to the cell are also targeted for sponsored or providing financial, material or technological support to ISIS. Overall, eight South African-based companies in connection with the members are also designated by the OFAC.
These are:
- MA Gold Traders (Pty) Ltd
- Bailey Holdings (Pty) Ltd
- Flexoseal Waterproofing Solutions (Pty) Ltd
- HJ Bannister Construction CC
- Sultans Construction CC
- Ashiq Jewellers CC
- Ineos Trading (Pty) Ltd
- Shaahista Shoes CC
The sanctions imposed on the individuals mean that all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities named and any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 per cent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC.
However Deputy Minister in the Presidency Responsible for State Security Zizi Kodwa said there was no direct threat to the country and slammed the US for disregarding procedure by releasing information about the potential threat without discussing it with the government.
Kodwa said, we take such threats seriously because we must remain vigilant. As the intelligence service, we have cooperated with several foreign intelligence services. We are host to more than 100 embassies in South Africa.
“Therefore, there is always protocol…on such issues. Firstly, to respect the sovereignty of a country. You can imagine if South Africa would pick up an issue in Washington and call our ambassador without having canvassed and discussed it with authorities in Washington. Big diplomatic fallout,” he added.
Islamic State previously threatened to attack South Africa for its involvement in a counter-insurgency operation in neighbouring Mozambique, where the Islamist militants have been carrying out attacks since 2017. South Africa is part of the 16-member Southern African Development Community economic bloc that deployed forces last year to help the Mozambican government quell the violence.