Cape Town - The US has issued a terror alert, with the UK following suit - adjusting its travel advisory to a high-terror alert - with malls across SA ramping up their security in response.

As a result, the Australian government has since updated its travel advisory for South Africa, saying: "The US government issued a terrorism alert to its citizens in South Africa on 4 June, 2016.

"The warning notes that 'the government has received information that terrorist groups are planning to carry out near-term attacks against places where US citizens congregate in South Africa, such as upscale shopping areas and malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town'.

"Be particularly vigilant in areas frequented by foreigners at this time. The level of this advice has not changed. We continue to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in South Africa," the Australian government advised.

READ MORE:- High terror threat alert not advising against travel to SA - UK

News24 reported earlier that State Security Minister David Mahlobo on Monday had downplayed the US government’s terror alert, giving assurances that his department was doing all it could to keep South Africa safe against attacks.



It was part of the United States government’s "standard precautionary recommendation to its residents", he said in a statement.



"We remain a strong and stable democratic country and there is no immediate danger posed by the alert."