Pretoria - Negotiations to locate and secure the release of two South Africans kidnapped in Yemen are continuing, says International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim.
The pair, who have been identified as Pierre and Yolande Korkie, were kidnapped in Yemen's central province of Taiz last month by unknown gunmen in front of a hotel in the town of Howban, about 250km south of the capital Sanaa.
Ebrahim said on Friday South Africa’s ambassador and the team continue to engage with all the relevant stakeholders.
“We are doing everything possible to try and locate them. So far we do not have any information on their whereabouts or the reason for their abduction," Ebrahim told a media briefing.
He dismissed suggestions that the two were held by al-Qaeda saying there has not been information to the effect that the two citizens were kidnapped by representatives of a certain organisation.
According to media reports, the two were involved in the development of the hotel and were involved in a dispute between developers and the landlord shortly before the abduction.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping but their whereabouts are still unknown.
Ebrahim said government was doing everything it could to provide consular services to the family, who they inform about the progress on regular basis. - SAnews.gov.za
