Families of detained engineers welcome Lamola's visit to Equatorial Guinea, urge resolution
The families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham have expressed their appreciation for International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola's recent visit to Equatorial Guinea, where he met with his counterpart, Equatorial Guinea Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophone Affairs Minister Simeón Oyono Esono Angue.
Lamola, serving as a special envoy for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement following the visit that he raised the need to resolve the challenge of the ongoing detention of Potgieter and Huxham, who have been held in Equatorial Guinea since February 9, 2023.
As previously reported in Engineering News, the two South Africans were arrested in what the families say is retaliation for the seizure by South African courts of superyachts and properties belonging to Equatorial Guinea VP Teodore Nguema Obiang Mangue, who is also the President's son.
Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini, spokespersons for the Potgieter and Huxham families, expressed renewed hope, following this diplomatic engagement, that the engineers may be released.
"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.
"We earnestly urge our government to persist in these diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Frik and Peter. 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."
The families emphasised the importance of continued diplomatic efforts.
"We firmly believe that, through sustained engagement and action, a resolution can be achieved that honours justice and human rights."
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