SA issues first counter terrorism freezing orders

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has issued its first court order under updated counter-terrorism legislation, targeting two individuals and two companies.

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg found reasonable grounds to believe that businessmen, Abdirizak Mohamed Abdi Jimale and Bashir Abdi Hassan have participated in terrorism-related activities.

This order is the first since the 2022 amendment to the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.

This move follows reports that over R400-million flowed out of South Africa in suspected terrorist transactions in 2020 and 2021, highlighting the need for stronger financial regulations.

Martin Ewi, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies unpacked what this means with eNCA's Gareth Edwards.