JOHANNESBURG - South Africa does not have the ability to counter terrorism.
Security consultant Jasmine Opperman says this is due to a lack of proactive intelligence.
Her comments follow the US Treasury's identification of an ISIS cell in the country.
It says the group is raising funds for the terror network and has now imposed sanctions on members of the cell.
"We cannot ignore our vulnerability via organised crime in terms of illegal financial flows," Opperman said.
"And this is just another indication of how the world is looking at South Africa and how they are asking questions about our ability to counter terrorism and these accusations and these activities cannot be taken lightly.
"In terms of our capability to deal with terrorism and extremism, looking at our intelligence in the process of transformation, I simply do not have the trust in the intelligence service to be able to work this field at a level that will enable us to put proactive intelligence on the table."