South Africans detained abroad: Lamola visits Equatorial Guinea

Update

GEORGE NEWS - A visit by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola to Equatorial Guinea recently, has given the families of Frik Potgieter from George and Peter Huxham from Langebaan, new hope.

The two South African engineers have been illegally detained on bogus drug charges in Equatorial Guinea since February 2023.

Lamola's recent visit to his counterpart, Simeón Oyono Esono Angue, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Francophone Affairs, raised the need to resolve the challenge of the ongoing detention of Potgieter and Huxham.

Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini, spokespersons for the families, said there is renewed hope following this diplomatic engagement.

"This visit brings a glimmer of hope to our families, who have endured the prolonged and unjust detention of Frik and Peter for far too long. These two engineers have dedicated years to Equatorial Guinea's oil and gas sector, and to mentoring young Equatorial Guinean workers," they say.

The men's mental and physical health has significantly deteriorated, with both suffering from chronic medical conditions, severe weight loss, and extreme psychological distress.

Prison authorities have had to call for urgent medical attention due to their declining health.

On 1 July last year the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a formal opinion declaring the men’s arrest and continued detention arbitrary and unlawful, urging their immediate release.

"We earnestly urge our government to persist in these diplomatic efforts to secure their release. Their ongoing detention has inflicted profound distress on them and their families, who suffer daily from the absence of their loved ones. This ordeal has robbed them of nearly two years, time that they can never recover," says Murphy.

The families believe that through sustained engagement and action, a resolution can be achieved that honours justice and human rights.

Potgieter and Huxham are highly experienced and professional engineers who were working for the Dutch company SBM Offshore in Equatorial Guinea when they were arrested at their hotel in Malabo on drug-related charges on 9 February. The families are convinced that these charges were fabricated.

They were convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

In addition, they were ordered to pay $5M USD (R93,7m) each in damages, with additional fines to be shared between them.

Political crossfire

However, Potgieter and Huxham remain caught in the political crossfire between South Africa and Equatorial Guinea with Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Obiang determined to hold them hostage against the release of his two Cape Town properties, which are being held by Daniel Janse van Rensburg from Hoekwil, as security for payment of the judgment awarded to him.

In the meantime, Janse van Rensburg has endured a gruelling nine-year court battle against Obiang, relating to his illegal incarceration in the notorious Black Beach Prison between 2013 and 2015.

On Tuesday 19 November 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeal will hear Obiang's petition against the refusal of a full bench of the Cape High Court to rescind Judge Slingers' judgment in December 2021, wherein leave was refused to allow Obiang to appeal the judgment of Judge Lekhuleni that awarded Daniel R39 882 000 in damages against the West African politician.

To raise the profile of this matter, and seek support, the families of Frik and Peter launched an online petition and social media profiles on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

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