Navy looks to shore up defence against Moz terror threats

The South African Navy is looking to establish a permanent base in Richards Bay, on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, as the rapid escalation of terror-related activities in northern Mozambique have security analysts and government officials concerned.

Sources in the navy told Sunday Times Daily this week that there were “legitimate concerns” of security threats stemming from terror attacks in Cabo Delgado, which had displaced more than 300,000 people, according to the UN Food Programme, and resulted in more than 2,000 deaths in the province.

In June, a small contingent of navy troops were deployed to Naval Island in Richards Bay on a one-month maritime exercise, Operation Notlela.

This formed part of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) response to Covid-19.

However, four months later, troops remain camped in an area once popular with the town’s residents.

SA Navy spokesperson Commander Sam Khasuli said the feasibility of a permanent base was being considered, but wouldn’t comment on whether the decision to establish the base permanently was linked to threats of terrorism, saying this was “restricted information”.

“Although this deployment was planned to be temporary at this stage, the SA Navy is acutely aware of the strategic importance of Richards Bay and serious consideration is being given to investigating the feasibility of a permanent presence in Richards Bay.”

Khasuli said the SA Navy would be expected to carry out combat operations against enemy forces. These included protecting maritime trade, combat search-and-rescue, combat and non-combat evacuation operations, peace-support operations, anti-piracy operations, disaster relief and humanitarian aid, hydrographic surveying, and border safeguarding.

In past three years more than 600 attacks have been recorded since extremist group Islamic State Central Africa Province (IS-CAP) infiltrated impoverished Cabo Delgado, which borders Tanzania.

A source in the region told Sunday Times Daily the situation had deteriorated, with attacks becoming more frequent and thousands of displaced people suffering at the hands of rebels.

Associate professor in the department of criminal justice at the University of Zululand Dr Johan Ras said the driving factors for insurgents were economic and psychological.

“Cabo Delgado is very rich in LNG (liquid natural gas). French oil and gas company Total has invested $20bn (about R325bn) in the area, while the US’ Exxon-Mobil has postponed its final investment decision because of the violent attacks. The rich gas fields are 40km from the coastline and gas goes through a pipeline to Japan, Europe and South Africa to be gasified.”

In June, Islamic State published an editorial in its newsletter, Al Naba, warning SA not to be influenced by Europe and America to become involved in Cabo Delgado.

“They (Europe and America) are trying today to get the South Africa government and its army involved in leading the war there, because of its proximity and its strong relations with the Mozambique government. But South Africa has enough internal problems to push it towards getting involved in this war that will place it in a great financial, security and military predicament, and may result in prompting the soldiers of the Islamic State to open a fighting front inside its borders [sic],” an extract of the letter reads.

State Security Agency (SSA) minister Ayanda Dlodlo previously expressed concern about the turmoil in Mozambique, revealing that SA was monitoring the situation closely.

Agency spokesperson Mava Scott said there were ongoing discussions regarding developments in Mozambique.

“From time to time we discuss an array of issues, the situation in Mozambique forms part of these discussions. We are taking what is going on there very seriously,” he said.

In September, minister of international relations and cooperation Naledi Pandor told parliament SA had not been asked to intervene in Mozambique.

Last week, the department of public works outlined a plan to spend close to R5bn to rebuild large sections of the border fence with four neighbouring countries, the Mozambican border fence forming the largest portion of work in the project.

Ras said the government had to carefully weigh up its options, especially because of the relationship SA enjoys with the country.

“The Mozambican government plans to build a LNG plant in Matola outside Maputo, where gas will be transported through an existing pipeline to Gauteng. Because this pipeline is so important to many countries, including South Africa, military and intelligence analysts, businesses and politicians really need to seriously consider their options about how and when to get involved. Apathy is not going to make them go away.”

However, he felt the navy base in Richards Bay was too far south from Maputo and Cabo Delgado to deal with threats appropriately.

“Richards Bay is strategically well situated, but it will still take too long to get into Mozambican waters and to catch up with those stealing our fish and plundering our marine resources. To open a naval base in Richards Bay is a good start, but we need to move ... closer to Kosi Bay,” he said.