While the police and the government declined to comment on Wednesday on claims that two citizens held in Pakistan were plotting attacks on South African tourist destinations, the Democratic Alliance urged the authorities to keep the public properly informed of any real danger.
The DA said in a statement: “In order to alleviate the confusion and fear that surrounds this report, it is imperative that the government acts as swiftly as possible to obtain clarity on this situation.”
Said criminal intelligence spokesperson Senior Superintendent Tummi Golding: “We don’t wish to comment on the issue.”
National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Selby Bokaba said: “We are not in a position to comment, because we simply don’t know.”
According to Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa, the government cannot confirm or deny any of the allegations until it has spoken to the two South Africans, apparently being held in Lahore.
Mamoepa said the government is battling to gain consular access to the men, being held since July 25.
South African officials have spoken to the Pakistani high commission in Pretoria and to the Pakistani foreign ministry about the matter. Both undertook to render assistance in enabling consular visits to the men, “but this has not happened”, Mamoepa said.
The reason being given is that authorities are still debriefing the men, he added.
The two are Feroze Ganchi, a doctor from Fordsburg, Johannesburg; and 20-year-old student Zubair Ismael from Laudium in Pretoria. Ganchi is apparently also known as Abu Bakar.
They were among about a dozen people detained after a 12-hour shootout with security forces at a house in Gujrat, south-east of Islamabad, on July 25.
Tanzanian al-Qaeda suspect Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was reportedly among those arrested. He is wanted by the United States for the 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
French news agency AFP on Tuesday quoted a Pakistani official as saying the South African pair had told interrogators of plans to attack tourist sites in their home country.
The Pakistani high commission in Pretoria referred enquiries to its first secretary, who could not be reached.
A group calling itself the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa expressed dismay at media reports on the alleged threat.
“We find it strange that statements from unnamed Pakistani intelligence sources have become authoritative in creating this ‘threat’ atmosphere,” it said in a statement.
“We know that Pakistani security forces use torture as an interrogation method. We are surprised that people are so willing to accept such dubious statements.”
The movement dismissed as “utterly implausible” a notion that South Africa could be a target of al-Qaeda attacks.
The Destination Marketing Organisation also expressed concern at the reports, but stressed they are still unconfirmed.
The body said it will stay in touch with the departments of safety and security and foreign affairs to remain fully briefed on developments.
“We would like to assure all visitors to our city and province [Cape Town and the Western Cape] that their safety is always our most important consideration.” — Sapa
‘Terror’ pair under lock and key
‘Terror’ pair were to ‘attack Jo’burg’