Isis growing threat to security in SA, says expert

THE threat from the Islamic State extremist group is growing in South Africa and the African continent.

This is according to security experts in the country in the wake of the announcement on Monday by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control that four Durban-based business people with alleged ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) had been added to the US’ sanctions list.

It also added Nufael Akbar, Yunus Mohamad Akbar, Mohamad Akbar, and Umar Akbar to its specially designated nationals and blocked persons list.

According to the US, the Akbar brothers are senior members of an Isis cell in Durban led by Farhad Hoomer.

Hoomer has however denied being a terrorist and says he will take legal action against the FBI and the CIA for harassing him and his family.

However the US is standing its decision.

“Treasury is targeting key individuals in Isis’s network in South Africa, as well as their business assets,” US treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement on Monday.

The alleged Isis cell is believed to provide technical, financial, or material support to the terror group in Southern Africa.

“Treasury also designated eight companies owned, controlled, or directed by the individuals in this Isis cell. Isis continues to expand its terrorist network across the continent,” reads the US statement.

Godfrey Ramuhala, a lecturer in strategic studies at the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University, said, just like any other terrorist group, Isis was able to operate in South Africa.

“Our porous borders make this possible. Our banking and supply chain system facilitates both commerce and its illicit versions, given the apparent nexus between terrorism and organised crime.

“Take note of the upsurge in kidnappings for ransom. Any undocumented person can commit any illegal activity with the full knowledge that even if they live behind potential forensic evidence, they remain untraceable because they are not in any database.”

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Reuters SECURITY experts say the Isis threat is growing in South Africa and across Africa. |