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The IFP is extremely concerned about comments made by Hussein Solomon,
an expert on Islamic militancy from the International Institute of
Islamic Studies, that the South African intelligence services are
"woefully inadequately prepared" for the potential threat of terrorism
during the World Cup next year.

Solomon added that South Africa's intelligence services are extremely
politicised and that they would rather spy on investigative
journalists to discover their sources than to spy on potential
terrorists.

"The IFP finds these comments alarming not only because the NIA is
still spying on its so called enemies - political parties not aligned
to the ruling party and journalist uncovering ruling party secrets -
but because there has been evidence of a real, credible terrorist
threat which is suspected to have led to the closure of the US
government facilities last month and today," said Velaphi Ndlovu, the
IFP's spokesperson on Police.

What is even more perturbing is that the international policing
agency, Interpol, has allegedly warned the South African intelligence
services about a potential threat but it seems the South African
government is not taking the advice or the threat seriously.

"Whilst we have received reassurance from the SAPS that the 2010 FIFA
World Cup will be a success from a security perspective, the IFP
believes that government owes to public an explanation as to why
Interpol's warning of a possible terrorist threat has seemingly been
ignored?" said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu added: "We also need assurance from that the State Security
Agency (SSA) that it has the capacity and expertise to deal with a
potential terrorism threat."

The IFP will approach the portfolio committee on intelligence to
request an urgent briefing by Moe Shaik, Head of the South African
Secret Services (SASS), and Lizo Gibson Njenje, the new National
Intelligence Agency (NIA) boss; on South Africa's readiness to avert a
potential terrorism attack on home soil.