South African Gerco van Deventer has finally been released from captivity by a splinter group of Al-Qaeda after six years.
The paramedic, who has now been released unconditionally, was kidnapped in Libya by the terror group on November 3, 2017, non-governmental organisation Gift of the Givers Foundation has said.
Van Deventer was formerly sold off to the splinter group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) Al-Qaeda group in Mali in 2018.
His release makes him the longest-held South African hostage ever captured..
Gift of the Givers, the largest disaster response in Africa, had been trying to secure the release of Van Deventer, since his capture.
“Late last night, one of the very trusted intermediaries called us to say that [Van Deventer] has been released in Algeria. He could not be released through Mali, apparently because of the current new war between the Mali military and the Tuaregs,” Gift of the Givers’ Imtiaz Sooliman stated.
“South African state security confirmed last night that Algerian state security called to inform them that [Van Deventer] is freed, is with them and taken to hospital for a health review. We await the next step on his health and arrangements to bring him home to be reunited with his wife Shereen and son Asher. It has been six agonising years of prayer, patience and hope. May [he] return home soon safely,” Sooliman added.
Gift of the Givers made multiple attempts to negotiate Van Deventer’s release; however, the Al-Qaeda organisation’s original demand for his release, R55.4 million ($3 million), was ultimately negotiated down to R9.23 million ($500,000).
His family was unable to pay for the ransom and there was no benefactor. Van Deventer soon-to-be employer was likewise unable to provide assistance.
“Having no ransom to pay for [Van Deventer] and no further leverage, negotiations stalled and eventually with Covid-19, negotiations went cold completely until January 2023 when one of our intermediary contacts in Mali requested us to restart the process.”
“Gift of the Givers however took advantage of monumental Islamic events to try to negotiate. This included Ramadan, when the organisation requested a ransom-free release as “hearts are generally softened during the fasting period”, Sooliman said.
Religious authorities again sent letters to the abductors, and again, negotiations took place during the Hajj journey.
Although the organisation’s appeal for assistance during the earthquake in Morocco was turned down, it prompted a response from the prisoners who had ties to the nation.
“Through the intermediaries, we received an indirect message of appreciation. We used that moment to request unconditional release once again. Then with our intervention in Gaza, one of the chief intermediaries in Mali with whom we have a relationship since 2015, requested the video messages from the family, the public and private ones .
“On December 5 we received a call from someone in Mauritania who said they were working on the release. We don’t know the person, have never had contact with him previously,” Sooliman said.