(WNAM Monitoring): Non-profit organisation Gift of the Givers on Sunday announced the release of South African Gerco van Deventer, who was taken hostage in Libya six years ago.
After being taken hostage, he was sold to Al-Qaeda.
“He was sold to the group in Mali in 2018 and finally released unconditionally yesterday,” said Gift of the Givers founder and director Imtiaz Sooliman on Sunday.
His release comes after six years and one month, making him the longest-held South African hostage in captivity, said Sooliman.
News24 reached out to officials in the international relations department regarding the release. Their comment will be added once received.
Gift of the Givers, at the request of Van Deventer’s family, became involved in negotiations in 2018 and made contact with Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).
Sooliman said JNIM had dealt with the release of Stephen McGown, Johan Gustafsson and Christo Bothma, and had connected many negotiators from various countries on behalf of hostages.
Sooliman said the initial request for Van Deventer was $3 million. Over time, he added, this was negotiated down to $500 000.
“The family could not afford the ransom, there was no benefactor… the company that Gerco had just commenced work for could not assist. Gift of the Givers does not pay ransom, but acts as a facilitator on behalf of distraught families wanting to bring home their loved ones,” Sooliman said.
Following years of pleading, Gift of the Givers received a call on Saturday to inform them that Van Deventer was released – and was in Algeria.
“He could not be released through Mali, because of the current new war between the Mali military and the Tuaregs. The man from Mauritania had requested a release via the Mauritania State Security, but they refused,” Sooliman said.
Eventually, they chose Algeria.
Sooliman said SA’s State Security Agency confirmed on Saturday that Algerian State Security had called to inform them that Van Deventer had been freed. He was in hospital for a health review.
“We await the next step on his health and arrangements to bring him home to be reunited with wife, Shereen, and son, Asher. It has been six years of prayer, patience and hope. May Gerco return home soon, safely.”
