Pretoria - Investigations into how Samantha Lewthwaite, also known as the White Widow, obtained a South African passport are still on-going, Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor said on Sunday.
“We are continuing our investigations and once we are ready, we will make a statement as to what we have established,” said Pandor.
Speaking at the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster media briefing, Pandor said there have been improvements in the security of obtaining a South African passport.
“In the meantime, we have improved on the security with respect to the acquisition of a passport, as well as all the procedures relevant to an application for a passport,” said Pandor.
She said biometric checks are used when looking into the background of individuals who apply for passports.
Lewthwaite is suspected to be behind the bloody Westgate Mall terror attack in Kenya in September. The 29-year-old British woman allegedly used a South African passport, under the name Natalie Faye Webb, to enter Kenya.
The four-day siege left more than 60 people dead, including South African James Thomas, and over 170 were injured. About 15 suspected Al Shabaab terrorists have been detained by the Kenyan government.
The passport, which was obtained using fraudulent supporting documents, was cancelled in 2011 following an investigation by the Department of Home Affairs.
State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele said that while investigations continue, work is being carried out to ensure that there is no destabilisation in the country.
“What we’d like to say is that in terms of the threat of terrorism, the State is working very hard to ensure that there’s no destabilisation inside South Africa. Of course, any terrorist grouping will always try to come with an element of surprise but we’re highly vigilant,” said Cwele. – SAnews.gov.za
