South African Muslims, who account for roughly 3 percent of the country’s total population of over 50 million, are largely moderate Muslims who condemn extremism.
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Four South Africans attempting to fly to Syria have been arrested in Johannesburg and will face charges related to terrorism, police said on Sunday.
Twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie were arrested by the Hawks during a house raid in Newclare over the weekend, and were charged today with three counts related to terrorism.
“The indictment does talk to issues of terror plots that they were planning against the U.S. Embassy as well as Jewish Buildings in the country”, he said, referring to the twins.
South Africa’s special investigations unit said it made its first arrests of suspected Islamic State recruits during a raid in Johannesburg.
The US warning said attacks could target sites frequented by US citizens, including high-end shopping malls in the economic hub of Johannesburg and Cape Town, which is popular with tourists.
The brothers are accused of intending “to cause and spread feelings of terror”, particularly in South Africa’s “Jewish sector”, the court’s provisional charge sheet said, News24 reported. The Hawks had also expanded their investigation to determine if the four had additional links withing the country.
“The incitement was to further the political, religious or ideological motives and objectives of… the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)”, it said.
Two more suspects will appear in Kagiso.
In terms of other group in South Africa, we can safely say they were not working with anyone.
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Hawks Spokesperson Hangawani Mulaudzi said they had been tracking the movements of the four suspects for nearly a year.
