Religious organizations, except for churches, will be targeted by the group

With additional reporting by Ayesha Mall, IOL Durban, South Africa correspondent

DURBAN, November 25 (IslamOnline) – A plot to poison the water supplies to several South African townships has been foiled after police promised to step up patrols over the festive season after recent threats by a right-wing Afrikaner group that they will be targeting religious organizations, except churches.

Earlier this month, nine bombs exploded in Soweto in the Gauteng province, killing one person and damaging a mosque.

A blast in Bronkhorstspruit, in the Mpumulanga province, damaged a Buddhist temple.

The U.K. daily newspaper, the Independent, reported Monday, November 25, that a group calling itself the Boere Vryheids Aksie (BVA) had planned to poison the water supply to several large townships, according to the South African National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

The BVA also planned to destroy electricity and transport networks to the same areas, and to set off bombs made from plastic explosives and other substances in the national parliament building in Cape Town, the Independent said.

The group would have poured tetranium, an agricultural poison, into reservoirs serving Soweto, Atteridgeville, Soshanguve and Laudium, where at least 10 million people live.

However, the plot was thwarted by the NIA in collaboration with the police force, but details of how it was foiled have not been disclosed, the paper added.

Further, the discovery of a large arms cache, including spike chains to ambush vehicles and 26 bombs, in Northern Cape province this week is being seen as a further sign of the determination of the far right, according to the Independent.

The U.K. paper said that some extremists have announced that they will form a political party that seeks to turn South Africa’s Western Cape province into a separate republic. This republic would have its own passports, monetary system and stock exchange.

Philip Myburgh, of the Cape Party, told the Independent that their goal of becoming a separate republic was not a pipe dream. “We are not an opposition party, we see ourselves as a government in waiting,” said Mr. Myburgh, a wealthy farmer.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner of Durban Central, Director Ronnie Winter, said he was told by his seniors two weeks ago that mosques, other places of worship and state property could be targets.

“We have taken special precautions to prevent these attacks. We will be patrolling all areas where religious groups get together for prayer”, said Winter.

Muhammed Ameer, PRO of the Jamiat-ul-Ulema of the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, said the right wing threats had been addressed by members of the organization.

“We would have to be more cautious and vigilant regarding this issue. It is unacceptable that places of religion should be used as targets. We condemn such intentions and threats.”

The head of the Hindu Maha Sabha, Ashwin Trikamjee, said he would ensure that all Hindu organizations were informed of the latest development.

“We will be taking these threats very seriously and stepping up security. The threat to attack religious organizations is clearly an attempt to intimidate and bring attention to themselves.

“It also demonstrates their mentality, that they want to fight their political battles using religion, which is unnecessary”, he said. 

Police spokesperson, Sally De Beer said that stricter policing would be implemented, especially over the festive season.

“Police had been told to be more vigilant during their patrols and to be wary of ‘suspicious’ people lurking at places of worship.”

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