According to the ministry, Sisulu received a report from the South African High Commissioner to Mozambique, Mandisi Mpahlwa, on the charges Hanekom is facing related to his supporting and aiding an extreme jihadist group that has been destabilising northern Mozambique for some months.
Press reports said the jihadists activities were also linked to the deaths of over 100 people in the area.
In light of this, the minister has requested South African law enforcement agencies to also investigate the charges with the aim of ensuring that none of the country’s citizens become involved in activities that destabilise other countries.
Sisulu said South Africa and Mozambique share a very deep political history and strong economic relations and noted that it was “not acceptable that a South African citizen is in court for alleged involved in extreme jihadists activities that have resulted in the loss of life.”
“South African citizens should spread love and peace across the Southern African Development Community area, continent and the world,” Sisulu said.
More than 800 South Africans are in prisons across the world for different crimes including fraud, drug possession and violent crimes, with the majority of them in the Americas convicted for drug-related convictions.
“We are very concerned about South Africans in prisons across the world. But we are specifically concerned about South Africans who are involved in crimes and activities that seek to destabilise democratically-elected states,” Sisulu said.