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Counter-terror team to probe Cape attack
Nearly six weeks have passed since an explosive device was thrown into the precinct of the Jewish communal offices in Gardens, Cape Town, and in spite of the Hawks being brought into the investigation, there has been no significant developments.
Critical footage was reportedly handed over to the Hawks of the improvised explosive device (IED), which failed to detonate, being thrown into the Samson Community Centre. The footage is believed to show two perpetrators including a getaway car.
“At this stage, there are no further updates regarding the incident,” said Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (Cape SAJBD) Executive Director Daniel Bloch. “An explosive device was thrown into the community centre which didn’t detonate, and the Hawks are still investigating all possible leads, including the nature of the device and the perpetrators behind the attack.”
Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi told the SA Jewish Report this week, “The matter is still under investigation and there are no new developments.”
Meanwhile, Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein this week announced that he had invited a counter-terrorism task force to assist with the investigation into the terror attack in Cape Town and to make recommendations to protect places of worship, schools, and community centres.
The move, announced in a video on YouTube, comes in response to escalating global threats to Jewish communities worldwide. The IED incident in Cape Town occurred on the same day as an attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, Australia.
Goldstein said, “I have asked the task force to write a report on its findings, including an assessment of the terror threat here in South Africa within the global context, and to make recommendations for protecting places of worship, schools, and community centres in South Africa and worldwide from the threat of terrorism.”
Professor Glen Segell, an expert in intelligence, terrorism and civil military relations, said, “The throwing of the bomb was an act of terrorism, and should receive the highest priority and attention even if it didn’t explode. Concern is that until the culprits are arrested it might happen again. No doubt police intelligence knows more or less the individuals, gangs, or organisations that could perpetrate such crimes. There seems to be no urgency or prioritisation even to arrest or question the ‘usual suspects’. The chief rabbi is correct to investigate and to draw attention to the severity of this event.”
Goldstein said it was important to acknowledge the risks we face because “it actually makes us safer when we deal with reality rather than pretend otherwise. And that’s why when the explosive device was thrown at the community centre in December, I felt it important to call it for what it was – a terror attack – even though it didn’t detonate. This work of this task force will make a significant contribution to making us safer. That’s why I invited it to South Africa.
“I have assembled this task force to better ensure the security of the Jewish community. The community, as is the case with Jewish communities globally, faces a significant threat of future terror attacks,” he said. “The task force has assembled global experts to advise on how shuls, schools, and community installations can be secured against terror threats.”
He said he would be sharing the findings of the task force with the leadership of the Community Security Organisation (CSO), and that the skills of the task force were available to local authorities.
“The advice of the task force will also have global application, and will be shared internationally. By acting firmly and proactively, we can better ensure the safety of South Africa’s Jews,” Goldstein said.
The task force is led by Andre Pienaar, the co-founder of the Directorate of Special Operations, known as the Scorpions.
Said Pienaar, “The task force will work closely with local communities to strengthen the safety of places of worship and support the efforts of local authorities. In due course, it will release a report and brief interested parties.”
The other task force members include Dean Haydon, the former senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism in the United Kingdom and former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police; Admiral Mike Hewitt, former deputy director for global operations, joint chiefs of staff, United States Defense Department; and Major General David Tsur, the former commander of the counter-terrorism unit in the Israel Police.
The task force, which is also working with the Security Advisory Council of the World Jewish Congress, has been mandated to investigate recent attacks and develop a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations to safeguard Jewish community spaces, said the chief rabbi.
Asked whether the Hawks had been consulted about this initiative, Vukubi said he had no comment.
Liron Sanders, the director of the CSO in Johannesburg said the organisation was working closely with the CSO Cape Town as well as all relevant law enforcement authorities to glean as much information as possible.
“We’re reviewing the evidence, which includes video footage to try identify possible suspects. The CSO in both provinces has increased security procedures in and around all facilities.”

Jessica
January 19, 2025 at 2:22 pm
No prize for guessing why the Hawks don’t regard the attack as a matter of urgency.