SA malls on high alert after terror alert
What you need to know:
The embassy said: “Be particularly vigilant in areas frequented by foreigners at this time. The level of this advice has not changed. We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa.”
Pretoria. The British and Australia embassies have corroborated the US embassy’s warning to South Africa about a looming terror threat, forcing five malls in Johannesburg and Cape to beef up security.
The British embassy's Isabel Potgieter said their government issued an alert a fortnight ago and revised it at the weekend following the US alert. She, however, said the UK government was not advising its citizens against travel to South Africa.
Australia has also updated its travel advisory to South Africa.
Has not changed
The embassy said: “Be particularly vigilant in areas frequented by foreigners at this time. The level of this advice has not changed. We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa.”
The US embassy said its Intelligence had received information that terrorist groups were planning to carry out near-term attacks against places where US citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The CEO for JHI Retail, Mr Nomzamo Radebe, said the group was taking the alert seriously. The group represents the five malls.
Group policy
“All five shopping centres in the Liberty Property Portfolio – Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, Eastgate, Liberty Midlands Mall and Liberty Promenade – are on high alert and additional security measures have been implemented in line with the Liberty Group policy. We are also working closely with SAPS.”
The spokesperson for the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, Carla White said earlier the security teams at the mall met regularly and cooperated with SAPS and national and regional intelligence.
“In response to the notification of this threat, SAPS has increased their presence and vigilance at the V&A Waterfront, and similarly we have also implemented actions accordingly.”
Increase security
The Mall of Africa Grand Manager, Ms Vanessa Fourie said steps had been taken to increase security.
“We have a security company on board and additional steps have been taken to ensure safety. We are also reliant on our relationship with the police and are keeping those channels opened.”
The South African government has poured cold water on the alerts telling its citizens there was no need to panic.
