Two South African air-crew members, who have been held in Equatorial Guinea over a business dispute since November 17, have had their passports returned and will return to Johannesburg as soon as possible, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota said plans were being made to fly Ruwayda Kalbine and Seshan Pillay out of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Libreville in Gabon.
They would arrive in Johannesburg on Wednesday night if flights were available from Libreville.
”I can now officially confirm that the passports of the two air crew were returned to them late last night,” Kota said.
”The Department of Foreign Affairs is making arrangements for the two to leave Malabo en route to Libreville, Gabon. From Gabon, they are expected to take a flight to Johannesburg. If all goes well, they will arrive in South Africa tonight. We are trying to find commercial flights.”
The decision followed a ”cordial” meeting between South African and Equatorial Guinean foreign-affairs officials in Pretoria.
Their passports were seized and the two air-crew members escorted off an Air Gabon flight from Malabo to Johannesburg last week after being placed on board by South African ambassadorial staff.
The two have been held in the country since November 17 amid demands for compensation from their employer, Global Aviation Leasing (GAL), by the West African country’s national carrier, Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra).
It is said to be claiming $150 000 (R958 500) for a week’s flying hours lost when GAL — which sub-contracted to Getra contractor Venatto Trading — withdrew an aircraft from service on realising Getra was breaking air-safety rules.
Equatorial Guinea’s Finance Minister, Mereelino Owono Edu, is reportedly a shareholder in Getra.
Kota was unable to give details of the settlement that was reached.
”What matters is that the terms of the resolution were honoured. The two passports were given back and the two are able to leave Equatorial Guinea,” she said. — Sapa