S. Africa on alert following terrorist attack warning: minister

South Africa is on alert following a warning of possible terror attacks against U.S. interests in South Africa, State Security Minister David Mahlobo said on Wednesday.

But the minister said there was no need to panic as there is no imminent danger or threat that is being posed by any terrorist group to this republic which "remains stable".

"There is no need for panic... but as a concern that was raised by the Americans, we will continue to do our normal job, to share information, be on the alert, we will not be in a position to be complacent," Mahlobo told broadcaster eNCA.

The U.S. embassy in South Africa said on Tuesday that it has received information that extremists may be targeting U.S. interests in the country.

The interests to be targeted possibly include U.S. government facilities and other facilities identifiable with U.S. business interests, the embassy said in a statement.

"There is no additional information as to timing or potential targeting," the statement said.

In contacts with South African authorities over the past few days, the U.S. said it had expressed worry about certain individuals who may pose a threat, according to Mahlobo.

South Africa took this warning seriously but its information from the ground was that there was no imminent danger, Mahlobo said.

"What we have done in terms of processing that information, we have to come to the conclusion that there is no immediate danger or threat that is being posed to any person within the republic," he said.

"But we will continue to monitor the information," Mahlobo added.

Fears for terror attacks on Western targets in South Africa have been existed for some time. There have been reports that 'White Widow' Samantha Lewthwaite was seen spying on Western embassies in South Africa before she allegedly masterminded the West Gate shopping mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013.

The 31-year-old Briton is known to have been in South Africa between 2008 and 2011, travelling under the assumed name Natalie Faye Webb on a fraudulently obtained South African passport.

In January and February 2013, she was allegedly caught on CCTV cameras watching embassies in the Arcadia area of Pretoria, including the British High Commission.

Arcadia is home to the Union Buildings and South African president's official residence, in addition to the US embassy and many other foreign embassies. Endite