The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP expressed concern on Wednesday about reports that international terrorists might be in South Africa.
”The IFP is alarmed at reports that suggest we might be harbouring international terror suspects, with links to Afghanistan, Iraq and al-Qaeda, without our knowledge,” the IFP’s John Bhengu said.
Bhengu is a member of Parliament’s intelligence joint standing committee.
This was an extremely serious issue and South Africa simply could not afford to have such dangerous individuals within its borders.
”We are all too well aware of the destruction terrorists have caused in countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Spain.”
The IFP was pleased at the surveillance work done by the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (Nicoc), and applauded its attentiveness in this matter.
”We hope that if surveillance provides concrete evidence of terror suspects hiding within our borders that they will be dealt with strongly in accordance with world anti-terrorism laws,” Bhengu said.
On Tuesday, Nicoc coordinator Barry Gilder said South African intelligence agencies were concerned that people involved in international terrorism were spending time in the country.
He told the South African Press Association that agents were watching certain individuals and organisations, including foreign visitors, who might be involved in international terrorism.
”We are concerned that terrorists are spending time here … It is something we are taking very seriously,” Gilder said.
Foreign officials and analysts had warned that South Africa had become a resting area for international terrorists. The country’s banks and other institutions were said to be used for terrorist activities.
”We are an open society with good infrastructure. That is some of the reasons they come here,” Gilder said.
He would not describe the extent of the problem, but said some of the people on the intelligence community’s watch list have contacts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and some have links to al-Qaeda.
He said South Africa was not a staging area for terrorism, but rather a place where those involved come to lay low.
He added that it was also not likely to be the target of terrorists. — Sapa