DA calls for urgent JSCI briefing on "White Widow" Samantha Lewthwaite

The DA will request that the Ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster urgently brief the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) on the investigation into the so-called "White Widow", Samantha Lewthwaite (see City Press report).

Media reports today that South Africa was placed on a high security alert last Sunday, after Lewthwaite was allegedly seen conducting surveillance of embassies in Pretoria, are cause for serious concern.

Ministers Nathi Mthethwa, Siyabonga Cwele and Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula must brief the JSCI to reassure Parliament that everything is being done to protect South Africa from terror attacks.

We need to be sure that South Africa is safe and that there were no intelligence failures in respect of Lewthwaite.

We cannot sit back and allow South Africa to become a "destination of choice" for terrorists. South Africans must be assured that their public representatives are doing everything possible to ensure South Africa's security. 

Statement issued by Dirk Stubbe MP, DA Shadow Minister of State Security, September 29 2013

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