Terrorism in South Africa

Terrorism in South Africa has not been seen as a significant threat to the security of the state since the end of apartheid.

In 1967 the government passed Terrorism Act No 83, defining terrorist activities as acts that "endanger the maintenance of law and order." In 2003, an Anti-Terrorism Bill (Bill 12 of 2003) was passed in which Terrorism was defined as "an unlawful act, committed in or outside the Republic."^[1]

In 2013, South Africa adopted a National Counter-Terrorism Strategy which is still in place in 2021. The document is aligned to the UN's Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, takes cognisance of the relevant resolutions adopted by the UNSC, and is based on five pillars: 1) Understanding and Prediction; 2) Prevention; 3) Mitigation; 4) Combating; and 5) Response – Dealing with the Consequences. It is supported by an implementation plan – as well as time frames for implementation, assessment, and reassessment – and is updated annually.^[2]

The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa also passed the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004 (No. 33 of 2004) which " provide[s] for measures to prevent and combat terrorist and related activities; to provide for an offence of terrorism and other offences associated or connected with terrorist activities; to provide for Convention offences; to give effect to international instruments dealing with terrorist and related activities; to provide for a mechanism to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions, which are binding on member States, in respect of terrorist and related activities; to provide for measures to prevent and combat the financing of terrorist and related activities; to provide for investigative measures in respect of terrorist and related activities; and to provide for matters connected therewith."^[3] This Act is currently in the process of being amended.^[4]