US warns of terror threat in SA

American citizens, businesses told to be vigilant, review security plans

AMERICANS in South Africa could be in the cross-hairs of terrorists. This emerged yesterday after the US embassy warned that US government and business interests in South Africa were under threat from extremists.

The warning comes just days before the 14th anniversary of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre’s twin towers in New York, which will be marked on Friday.

The embassy gave no indication of a time frame. Its warning calls for US citizens to review their personal security plans and be vigilant.

A similar alert was issued by the embassy four days before, reminding US citizens of the need for caution “as the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks approaches”, but yesterday’s alert seemed to indicate a higher level of concern.

“While there are threats against US citizens everywhere, there are groups in the region who are intent on harming US citizens and US interests,” it said.

The South African government refused to comment on the alert, which political economists and security analysts warned could have a detrimental effect on the country.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesman Nelson Kgwete said that state security was dealing with the matter.

The State Security Agency (SSA) said a statement would be released later.

US embassy spokesman Cynthia Harvey said: “When we receive specific, credible, non-counterable threat information, it is standard practice for US embassies to issue security and emergency messages.

“The US Department of State has no higher priority than the protection of US citizens overseas.”

She said the messages did not reflect the nature of “our bilateral relations with a country”.

“The US government, as it does in any investigation into terrorist threats against American interests around the world, will cooperate with South African authorities.”

South Africa has long been seen as a staging area for terrorist organisations, including Nigerian-based Boko Haram and Somalia’s al-Shabab.

Al-Qaeda has been revealed to have had ties to the country, with members of militant groups linked to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo arrested in South Africa.

Institute for Security Studies senior researcher Andre Roux said the US did not put out such statements “willy- nilly”.

“The threats to the US are not only on their mainland, which are their biggest and most concerning, but also abroad, especially in regions such as Africa where there are numerous groups that have far-reaching influence,” he said.

“It just needs a couple of terrorist incidents to have a dramatic effect especially on governments, their economies and policies.”

He said the number of radicalised people across the globe had spread, especially with those returning to their home countries from places such as Syria and Iraq with knowledge and expertise in warfare and terrorist activities, and a mind-set of brutality and the willingness to commit horrendous attacks.

“Because of Islamic State and the exposure these people have had, they are home-grown threats, with knowledge and networks.

“Put these people together and you [can] sow untold terror.”

He said there would have to be a specific reason for a terror group to stage an attack in South Africa.

“Unlike other countries in Africa where radicals have huge support bases, South Africa is far better suited as a transit point for terror groups as it is seen as the gateway to many parts of the world,” Roux said

A Cape Town-based security analyst for risk management firm Red 24, Ryan Cummings, said the US had last

Put these people together and you [can] sow untold terror

issued a terror threat in South Africa in 2009.

“One would not immediately associate South Africa with Islamic extremism, which is the driver of international terrorism against US interests,” Cummings said.

“We haven’t had an extensive history of transnational terrorists targeting US interests, [but] there has been evidence that South Africa serves as some form of a gateway or potential logistics and financial hub.

“The fact that this warning speaks specifically to South Africa means the perceived threat is specifically within our borders,” he said.

British terror suspect Samantha Lewth- waite -- dubbed the “White Widow because her husband was among the 2005 London suicide bombers -- lived in South Africa for years on a fake passport.

The US, as South Africa’s largest portfolio investor (valued at R400-billion) and the largest source of foreign direct investment into the country, holds extensive interests in South Africa.

The US Diplomatic Mission to South Africa employs about 310 American staff members and about 560 South Africans in the Pretoria embassy and consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

In addition, a substantial number of American government departments base their regional operations in South Africa.

The extensive and diverse range of US companies operating in the country – which range from agricultural to petro- chemical concerns – employ about 125 000 people.

In Port Elizabeth and the greater Eastern Cape, major American-linked interests include global automotive industry manufacturers such as General Motors South Africa, the Ford Motor Corporation and a number of major component manufacturers and several McDonalds and KFC outlets, among other entities.

General Motors South Africa communication manager Denise van Huyssteen said they were aware of the warning.

“We are not aware of and have not been advised of any security threat to the company, so it is business as usual for General Motors,” she said.

Donovan Noyle, general manager of Hooters in Port Elizabeth, said he was unaware of any threat to the franchise.

McDonalds fast food chain South African management acknowledged the threat, but declined to comment further.

Political economist Daniel Silke said the warning from the US would have a detrimental effect on the economy.

“This is the last thing South Africa needs at a time when its domestic economy is under pressure,” he said.

“The country’s leaders are trying to encourage direct foreign investment and it is already suffering from lower tourism arrivals.”

Afro-Middle East Centre director Naéem Jeenah said: “I don’t believe any extremist groups, either on or off the continent, see any value in targeting South Africa.

“The US embassy has in the past issued such advisories [and] nothing has come from them.”