Man and woman with alleged links to terror group IS appear in court

POLICE and intelligence agencies have linked the disappearance of a Cape Town couple to an alleged cell with ties to global terror group Isis.

The couple‚ whose names have not been released‚ are understood to have been kidnapped while on holiday in KwaZulu-Natal.

In the wake of their disappearance‚ a man and woman who had been held under surveillance by counter-terrorism agents were arrested in a covert swoop in Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The suspects have been identified as Sayfydeen Aslam del Vecchio‚ 38‚ and Fatima Patel‚ 27.

Patel and Del Vecchio appeared in the Vryheid Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Patel was previously arrested – with her brother Ebrahim – on the West Rand by the Hawks during antiterrorism raids in July 2016. They were both released on R5 000 bail.

Also arrested at the time were twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie‚ accused of planning terrorist attacks for the Islamic State, also known as Isis.

Their trial resumed in Johannesburg yesterday, but was postponed to April 16.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation said Del Vecchio and Patel had used the affluent coastal hamlet of Ballito as a base‚ and that they were allegedly found in possession of Isis recruiting material.

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that during surveillance of Patel and her partner‚ operatives had gathered information allegedly linking them to the couple from Cape Town.

“Both had been on our radar for a long time,” he said. “They were under surveillance and while this operation was under way‚ we gathered information on two from Cape Town who had gone on a trip to the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

“The Cape Town couple had left the Western Cape on February 5 and were expected to return on February 15.

Mulaudzi said police had approached the couple’s family‚ who had no idea that they were missing.

“The couple had last communicated with them on February 12,” he said. “We staged an operation with the terrorism task force and arrested two people in Vryheid.

“They are facing charges of kidnapping‚ alternatively robbery‚ and possible murder, arson in respect of several hectares of sugar-cane fields they [allegedly] torched last year, as well as possible contraventions of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.

“The Priority Crime Litigation Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority is providing assistance with the prosecution.”

Patel’s attorney‚ Yoush Tayob‚ confirmed yesterday that she had appeared in court on Monday and been remanded in custody.

“I have instructed an attorney in Durban to represent her and we are still trying to examine the provisional charge sheet,” Tayob said.

“I hear they have been charged with kidnapping‚ robbery and flying an Isis flag at a public event.”

He said Patel’s 2016 matter was still before the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court‚ awaiting a ruling on the admissibility of evidence.

The Thulsie twins – allegedly linked to Isis – have been held in custody since their arrest in 2016. They are accused of plotting terror attacks on South African soil.

Among the instructions from an Isis figure‚ intercepted by counterintelligence agencies‚ the twins were to kill affluent Jews and even cartoonist Zapiro for his caricature of the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

Tony-Lee is also accused of discussing terrorist plans with an undercover US FBI agent in 2016 and seeking advice on making bombs.

His brother is alleged to have acquired a copy of The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook.