SA engineers freed from Equatorial Guinea prison
Equatorial Guinea released the two South African Engineers who had been detained since 2023 on drug charges.
Peter Shane Huxham and Frederic Potgieter arrived in Lanseria International Airport on Saturday after being pardoned by the President of Equatorial Guinea.
The two engineers, who worked for a Dutch oil and gas company SBM Offshore, were arrested at a hotel in the capital Malabo the night before they were due to return to South Africa after a five-week work rotation.
They were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment before the pardon.
They were welcomed by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, who had been involved in efforts for their release.
The family spokesperson to both the engineers, Shaun Murphy, said the United Nations Group working on arbitrary detention found that their arrest was unlawful and in violation of international human rights.
"We are overwhelmed with relief and joy. The last two years and four months have been unimaginably painful for both of our families. Today, we are finally able to say: Frik and Peter are safely back home," said Murphy.
“This brings to an end a long painful ordeal one marked by anguish, uncertainty and tireless efforts by so many to secure their freedom.”
While at the airport to receive the two oil engineers, Lamola said the overnment remained actively engaged through diplomatic channels to secure their release on humanitarian grounds.
"Throughout these sustained engagements, the government consistently appealed for clemency, highlighting the humanitarian aspects of the case and the profound impact on the families of the detained," said Lamola.
“We extend our gratitude to the President of Equatorial Guinea. We also want to thank the families for their cooperation, including SBM, the company we worked with during this diplomatic engagement, with Equatorial Guinea.”
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