SA takes hard line on Syria terror exports
He’s not welcome back, government tells hurt IS fighter’s family
AFTER assisting eight members of the terror group Islamic State to return to South Africa from Syria last year, the government has put its foot down.
The Sunday Times has established that security agencies are no longer allowing IS fighters to be reintegrated into society — and has rejected a plea by a South Africa family that wants to come home.
The State Security Agency is trying to identify the funders and recruiters of IS in South Africa after four people were arrested last weekend — two of whom have been charged with terrorism.
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation has denied a plea by the Moosagie family of Port Elizabeth to return to South Africa for medical treatment after their 18-year-old son, Eesa Moosagie, was shot in the head. He is believed to be in a coma.
The department’s spokesman, Clayson Monyela, said: “A few individuals got shot, some of them died, some of them are injured and people wanted us to bring them back home and we said no. “We said we can’t do that. They went out of the country and illegally fought in another country.”
Last year, state security opted to monitor those who returned and warned them of the repercussions of any terror-related activities. Since the return in September last year of eight adults and three children, the department has advised religious leaders to keep an eye out for any radicalisation attempts.
But Allie Moosagie wants nothing more than for his brother to fly home. It has been a year since he last heard from Rashid, who left Port Elizabeth in January last year with his wife and four children to join IS.
Allie could not confirm whether the family had asked the government if they could return to South Africa. But, he said: “The greatest thing that can happen is if they can come back. But when they come back they must come with their proper senses. They must come back because they are disillusioned.”
Twins Sallahuddin (BrandonLee) and Yakeen (Tony-Lee) Thulsie, 24, of Newclare in Johannesburg have been charged with conspiracy and incitement to commit the crime of terrorism and conspiring and attemptnied ing to commit acts associated with terrorist activities, after a police raid on their home last Saturday. After another raid, in Azaadville on the West Rand on the same day, siblings Ebrahim, 33, and Fatima Patel, 24, have been charged under the Explosives Act and the Firearms Control Act, for allegedly being in possession of a stun grenade and 21 bullets. They were granted bail on Thursday.
It was reported this week that the Thulsies allegedly recruited the Patels, but lawyers have de- they know each other.
The arrests have shocked both communities, members of which say they posed no threat.
Karen Jayes, of the advocacy group Cage Africa, which has stepped in to help the family, said Sallahuddin shared a onebedroom home with his mother, Wasiela, 52, and supported her.
Said Jayes: ‘‘Their sister Salomi said he gave most of his salary to his mom. Salomi describes both her brothers as gentle-hearted and very giving. Sallahuddin, she says, would give his lunch or last change to beggars . . . ”
Jayes said the twins had tried and failed to go to Syria to live under an Islamic system.
‘‘They did not leave to fight for IS . . . Salomi called the airline and stopped them because she was worried about them. They returned home to lead normal lives. Sallahuddin had a fulltime job and Yakeen was due to start a new job on Monday.”
The Thulsies were arrested for their alleged links to IS and had been under surveillance for a year before their arrests. “We are not after the recruits as much as we are after those who are recruiting,” a source said.
Shabier Dabhelia, chairman of the Azaadville Community Policing Forum, has dismissed reports that Ebrahim Patel was kicked out of the CPF.
Their mother, who has cancer, and their elderly father were traumatised, he said.
It was impossible that the siblings could have been up to no good. “There’s nothing here that happens in Azaadville that people won’t know,” he said.
The four are due to appear in court again tomorrow.
People wanted us to bring them back home and we said no