NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

FOR ORAL REPLY

QUESTION NO. 107

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26 OCTOBER 2004

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 30-2004) 

REPLY TO PARLIAMENT ON:  03-11-04 

Mr. V.B. Ndlovu (IFP) to ask the Minister for Intelligence: 

In light of his recent statement that no networks have been established but that elements of al-Qaeda have been detected in South Africa, (a) what elements was he referring to; and (b) what proof has been found that these elements do exist. 

Whether there are any mechanisms in place to prevent al-Qaeda from establishing networks in South Africa; if not; why not; if so, what mechanisms? 

REPLY: 

Madam Speaker:  before I answer, I would like to point out that the practice has been to have intelligence related questions referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) owing to the fact that they often require details of an operational nature and are therefore classified. 

However, I have decided that when questions do not affect operational  security or do not undermine intelligence investigations by public disclosure,  I am willing to consider sharing information with the House. 

1(a)   The first such element to come to our notice was Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, a Tanzanian citizen wanted in the US for his role in the US embassy bombing in Dares Salaam on 7 August 1998.  Mohamed was using South Africa as a place of refuge when we detected and arrested him on 5 October 1999 in Cape Town.  He was deported to the US, stood trial and found guilty of the offence.           

In addition to MOHAMED, other elements suspected of having links to al-Qaeda or being sought by their Governments were found to be living in South Africa. Those  found with irregular travel documentation were deported and the others quickly left the country. 

A recent incident of concern has been the arrest of the two South Africans, Dr Feroz GANCHI and Zubair ISMAIL, on 24 July 2004 in the presence of a senior al-Qaeda operative in Pakistan.  A joint task team consisting of members from the Intelligence Services has been  investigating this matter. I wish to point out that the two men must be considered innocent until proven guilty.  

1(b)   The presence of such individuals as referred to leads us to naturally conclude that persons associated in some way to al-Qaeda have surfaced in our country and could continue to do so.  There has been no evidence to date to lead us to conclude that anything approaching an established network or structure of cells with a leadership component exists, although there may well be elements wishing to further such aims. 

Our intelligence and security services remain vigilant and will be improved and made more efficient.  Mindful of intelligence failures that have occurred internationally, we are strengthening co-operation between our national services and strengthening links and co-operation with international partners so as to better share vital information, mindful of the fact that effective intelligence is the first line of defence. 

We are improving our border security, ports of entry, customs and immigration procedures and capacity and creating better collaboration between relevant government departments embracing intelligence services, law enforcement agencies and the department of Home Affairs. 

We are developing national, regional and continental early warning centres to strengthen co-operation across the intelligence community of Africa. 

Thank you.