In what is fast being elevated to the level of a diplomatic spat, the South African government has lashed out at the United States for the way it has issued a recent warning about possible terror attacks.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Thursday by two government departments, it said the information on which the US based its warning message on Saturday was \u201cdubious, unsubstantiated and provided by a \u2018walk-in\u2019 source based on questionable conclusions\u201d.<\/p>\n
It said the information was \u201cvery sketchy\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US said in its alert that it had received information that radical Islamic terrorist groups were planning to attack \u201cplaces where US citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town\u201d ahead of Ramadan, which started on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The British and Australian embassies followed by updating their travel information for South Africa, but did not go as far as warning citizens not to travel to this country.<\/p>\n
Even though the South African government has up to now vowed that it was working with the US government on the matter, the department of international relations and the State Security Agency in the statement said they were \u201cdispleased with the manner in which the alerts about South Africa were handled\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to the statement South Africa\u2019s security agencies were in \u201cconstant liaison with foreign intelligence services\u201d represented locally and it included information exchanges on terrorist and violent extremist threats.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa as a sovereign peace loving country has always adopted a professional manner in engaging with other countries on these issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are, therefore displeased with the manner in which some countries have reciprocated. Their actions have been disingenuous and a cause for serious concern to our government,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is within this context that the South African government rejects attempts by foreign countries to influence, manipulate or control our country\u2019s counter terrorism work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe reject attempts to generate perceptions of government ineptude, alarmist impressions and public hysteria on the basis of a questionable single source.\u201d<\/p>\n
Government said it was \u201cfully capable of securing our country, protecting our people and taking care of the safety of foreign citizens on our soil.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe expect foreign embassies on our soil to follow the correct channels when communicating matters of such nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the statement, government has \u201cd\u00e9marched the affected embassies to register our displeasure with the manner in which the matter was handled\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, government said it would \u201ccontinue to remain vigilant at all times\u201d but it would be the \u201cfirst to inform the public about any eminent threat\u201d should the need arise.<\/p>\n
News24 on Wednesday reported that government intelligence believed that the informant, an East African businessman, only gave information for the money, and that the information wasn\u2019t substantiated by fact.<\/p>\n
International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela tweeted that the statement was \u201capproved at the highest level\u201d and \u201cthe strongest statement I have done in a while\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US Embassy in Pretoria and the British High Commission did not have an immediate response available.<\/p>\n
News24<\/a><\/p>\n South African malls on high alert after terror warnings<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Britain warns citizens of \u2018high\u2019 terror threat in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n SA terrorist threats: No need to panic, says State Security Agency<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on terrorism<\/h3>\n