The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa has communicated with representatives from the Equatorial Guinea government both domestically and in Malabo to express dissatisfaction regarding the detention of two South African citizens.
Engineers Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham were convicted and imprisoned on what their families believe are fabricated drug charges as a form of retaliation against legal actions initiated in South Africa against the vice president of Equatorial Guinea.
On Monday, the department stated that the country’s ambassador had engaged with foreign affairs officials in Equatorial Guinea to voice these concerns.
The families of Potgieter and Huxham appeared in Parliament last week to request assistance in securing the release of their loved ones.
Following a work assignment, the men were apprehended a day before returning to South Africa in February last year. Potgieter and Huxham were expatriate employees on offshore vessels for a Dutch oil company.
According to International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola’s spokesperson, Crispin Phiri, diplomats have emphasised this matter in both countries over the past week.
The ambassador of Equatorial Guinea assured that he would convey his host’s message to his government.