Roundup: S. Africa needs to strengthen intelligence amid terror alerts: experts

South Africa is not facing an immediate attack by terrorists, but there is need for the country to strengthen its terrorism intelligence and investigate all given alerts, experts said on Wednesday.

Although there is no evidence that an imminent attack is certain, such warnings must not be taken lightly especially in a country where intelligence has always been found wanting in preventing local violence, said Nick Piper, a coordinator at the Signal Risk, a risk analysis firm.

The U.S. Embassy in Pretoria recently issued a terror alert, saying it has reliable information that ISIS was planning a terror attack in places frequented by Americans and other tourists in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

"It is not going to be an imminent attack, but that does not mean the country should relax and think it is not going to happen," Piper told Xinhua.

"Most potential attacks have been prevented by tip-offs from other governments or citizens. When such warnings come, the government should take them serious."

Piper said research has shown that some extremists have visited South Africa for ideological radicalization.

On the other hand, there have been reports that some South Africans have visited countries where extremism dominates and there is a strong possibility they are being radicalized, he said.

"The fear is that South Africa could be used as a launching ground for extremists planning attacks somewhere," added the expert.

Anneli Botha, a senior researcher on terrorism at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said the South African government needs to invest more money on intelligence to fight terrorism.

"We cannot wait until it happens. Intelligence work needs to be supported with essential resources so that the country is readily prepared to prevent the attacks," said Botha.

"Terrorists activities do not always happen in big cities where security is always heightened," she said. "Some of these activities happen in remote areas or small towns and attacks can be launched from there."

Botha noted that there are a number of reasons why extremists may decide to use South Africa as a ground to launch attacks.

"South Africa has good infrastructure, but there is lack of vigilance on terrorism, which is what terrorists want," she said, adding that corruption at some government agencies may facilitate terror activities.

"The availability of illegal weapons is also a cause for concern since this is something that might attract terrorists," added Botha.

Although there has not been any confirmed terror attacks in South Africa, the country has had several incidents of suspected terrorism.

In 2011, a suspected Al-Qaida financier allegedly planning attacks on a Jewish Center in Cape Town was arrested.

In 2015, the U.S. also warned its citizens of possible attacks.

And in May this year, South African minister of State Security David Mahlobo cautioned that the number of South Africans associating with terror groups was increasing. Enditem