‘Please pray for them’ - family of missing 21-year-old in Mozambique pleads for rescue ops
The family of 21-year-old Francois van Niekerk has pleaded with the South African government to send help to those trapped in northern Mozambique.
“Please send assistance, so much as possible and as fast as possible.”
Cindy Cooke, van Niekerk’s stepmother spoke to Jacaranda FM News on Sunday morning.
She said the 21-year-old from eMalahleni in Mpumalanga frantically called his father on Wednesday.
“He told his father the insurgents are in town. His father heard the shots and bombs – and he (Van Niekerk) wanted to know what he should do,” an emotional Cooke said.
They have not heard from him since after cellphone towers were shot down on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Militants seize north Mozambique town, several killed, LNG works halted
Rescuers went to his location on Wednesday, but he was not there.
Suspected Islamist insurgents attacked a convoy of fleeing civilians on Saturday.
Several people have been killed while dozens are missing.
“We are asking South Africa and the world to pray for us and all those trapped,” said Cooke.
This while French energy giant Total has suspended its gas operations following the stand-off between the militants and security forces.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will reportedly attend an urgent meeting on the situation on Sunday.