No need to panic over U.S. terror alert: SA minister

The South African government has noted the terror alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria over the weekend, but there is no need to panic, Minister of State Security David Mahlobo said on Monday.

The alert, he said, "is part of the US government standard precautionary communication to its residents".

The U.S. Embasssy in Pretoria said on Saturday that the U.S. government has received information that terrorist groups are planning to carry out near-term attacks against places where U.S. citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

"This information comes against the backdrop of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's public call for its adherents to carry out terrorist attacks globally during the upcoming month of Ramadan," the embassy said without giving further details.

The security services of South Africa have liaised with the Americans on the concerns they have and these engagements will continue as part of the ongoing work, Mahlobo said in response to the alert.

"It is the responsibility of the South African security forces to ensure that all people within our territory are and feel safe," Mahlobo said.

The SA security services will continue to work on matters of violent extremism and terrorism amongst others and ensure the safety of all citizens and residents, he said.

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 U.S. embassy and many other foreign embassies. Enditem