24 May 2006
The South African Department of Foreign Affairs has been officially advised
by its diplomatic mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of the
arrest on Friday, 19 May 2006, by the DRCâs law enforcement agencies of 19
holders of South African passports alongside three Americans and four
Nigerians.
Sixteen of these South African passport holders are members of the Omega
Security Company, which has contracts with the DRCâs National Transport office
for the training of security personnel in Matadi, Boma and Mouanda. The other
three South African passport holders work for a mining company, Mirabulis, as
interpreters.
According to information at the disposal of the South African diplomatic
mission in DRC, investigations are currently underway even though the
authorities have indicated that the detainees are being on held on allegations
of "destabilisation of government institutions".
The diplomatic mission has been granted permission for a consular visit to
the detainees on Tuesday, 23 May 2006. The mission will continue with efforts
to verify the nationalities of the detainees with a view to providing full
consular assistance whilst monitoring investigations.
Contact: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
24 May 2006
