Cele says weekend events safe after US terror alert
Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday
several major events slated for this weekend would be protected, days after a
US embassy warning of a possible "terrorist" attack in the country.
"This weekend we have... four major events. All are properly protected and (we) are properly prepared," Police Minister Bheki Cele said in the eastern port city of Durban, which will host the official coronation of the Zulu king on Saturday.
He listed the Durban event where President Cyril Ramaphosa will hand over a certificate of kingship to King MisuZulu Zulu, a gay pride march in the country's financial hub of Johannesburg, a rugby match in the capital Pretoria, and a soccer derby in the Johannesburg township of Soweto.
"All that, we... are ready for. Even if there were no threats, (police and security forces) would still be prepared for it," he said.
The US embassy incensed South Africa on Wednesday when it posted the alert on its website and identified the potential target as Sandton, a suburb of Johannesburg.
READ: Cele confident of security measures for king's handover ceremony
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the warning was "unfortunate" and caused "panic" in the country.
Cele said he had seen no proof of any planned attack since the US warning.
"Up to this point, we do not have evidence on the table of the thing that has been said," he said.
Pretoria had initially appeared to downplay the alert, calling it "part of the US government's standard communication to its citizens".
A US State Department spokesperson on Thursday said the United States believed it was critical to issue alerts "in real time".
They said the department was committed to "provide US citizens with clear, timely and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions".
