Talks to secure the release of two South African air-crew members held in Equatorial Guinea as part of a business dispute continued on Tuesday ”with good progress made”, one of the companies involved said.
”Yes, there has been progress with the negotiations,” Venatto Trading director Didier Pereira said. ”You can say they are moving ahead. Everything looks positive.”
Venatto had met the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday morning to discuss the issue.
A representative of the Equatorial Guinean airline Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra) was scheduled to be at the meeting.
Getra is demanding compensation for flying hours lost after Venatto sub-contractor Global Aviation Leasing (GAL) — the employer of the air crew — withdrew an aircraft from service on realising Getra was breaking air safety rules.
GAL employees Sechan Pillay and Ruwayda Kalbine have been prevented from leaving Equatorial Guinea since November 17.
Equatorial Guinea’s Finance Minister, Mereelino Owono Edu, is a shareholder in Getra.
About $150 000 (R958 500), for one week’s lost flying time, was involved.
Asked about a newspaper article saying Venatto had paid R1-million to have the two released, Pereira said: ”It is not true at all. We were surprised to see that.”
Another director of Venatto, Mike Commarmond, said on Monday that he wants the crew back in South Africa.
”They will not hold people hostage for the sake of a commercial dispute.”
He said that while his company has done good business in Equatorial Guinea and has good business relationships there, he is disappointed that Pillay and Kalbine are being prevented from leaving.
Authorities in Equatorial Guinea plucked the two from an Air Gabon flight from Malabo to Johannesburg on December 13, after they were escorted on board by South African ambassadorial staff.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is expected to release a statement on the outcome of the meeting later on Tuesday. — Sapa