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The SA State Security Agency has tightened security after an alleged plot to assassinate the US ambassador to SA Lana Marks.
“At present, the information provided is not sufficient to support the allegation that there is a credible threat against the US ambassador to South Africa,” the agency said.
“We reiterate that such assassination conspiracies against diplomats are viewed very seriously and His Excellency, Ambassador Marks, has been assured of our commitment in this regard.”
He said South African government officials had met with their US counterparts and other relevant stakeholders on the matter.
This follows US media reports that the Iranian government was considering assassinating Marks in response to the assassination earlier this year of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian Major General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“Our sovereignty and territorial integrity is of the utmost importance to the government of South Africa and its people. In this regard, the South African government takes any alleged threat seriously and therefore we have increased our security / alert situation. It is our duty to protect all diplomatic missions, and their personnel, present in South Africa, ”the agency said in a statement.
TimesLIVE
