Presidency Minister Mondli Gungubele has rubbished intelligence from the US Embassy about an apparent terrorist attack in Sandton this coming weekend.
Sandton terrorist attack: SA govt downplays warnings from US Embassy
Addressing the media, Gungubele revealed that the presidency’s security unit was “a bit disturbed” by the alarm raised by the US Embassy in a notice sent to American citizens and ex-pats residing in South Africa, on Wednesday.
In the security alert, the US Embassy claimed to have received intelligence of a planned attack on an unspecified location “in the greater Sandton area.”
According to Gungubele, however, “this alarm has been going on but up to this point it is not backed up by any evidence.”
RelatedPosts
“Our teams have been following the matter for them to give evidence and they have not been able to do that,” the minister said.
As reported by Times Live, South Africa’s national intelligence was, in August 2021, absorbed into the Presidency. Therefore, if any security threat exists, it would have been communicated to his office.
While Gungubele’s comments on the supposed Sandton terrorist attack were a head-scratcher, the SA government, in a statement quoted by News24, assured the public that developments around the security alert will be monitored.
“We continue to monitor for threats to our citizens, nation, and sovereignty. Threats are assessed continuously and are acted upon to ensure the safety of all,” the statement read.
In its notice to American citizens, the US Embassy warned that while no information exists on the terrorist group behind the plot or the timing, method or target of the potential attack, areas in the greater Sandton region that often attract large crowds ought to be avoided altogether between 29-30 October 2022.
Two major events are taking place in the region this weekend: the Johannesburg Pride and the Soweto Derby.
Both events are set to take place amid the security threat.
We will bring you more updates on developments around the Sandton terrorist attack as soon as they become available.
