Happy to be home, the four South African police officers who were kidnapped in Sudan said their captors treated them like human beings.
“To be honest, we were treated like human beings. We are not hurt, we are lucky and we are fine,” Colonel Ntlogeleng Aucone said at a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday.
Having endured 15 days of emotional suffering, Aucone said they would go back to Sudan as soon as all processes were complete.
“All of us are going back … we can still stay there for one year. From the start, our aim was to go there and assist the people, and we knew what to expect.”
Aucone, Captain Michael Annett, Sergeant Michael Melanzi and Constable Mmasebelalo Ramantsi all smiled as they spoke of their appreciation for efforts to return them safely to their families.
They were abducted by a group of 18 men on April 11 while travelling in a Nyala from their operational base to their accommodation.
Having slept in the veld, sharing only one blanket at night, the group was “unshaken”.
News of their release on Monday brought joy, relief and appreciation to their families, the government and South Africans, said Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa.
No ransom was paid, even though the equivalent of R29-billion was requested.
Mistaken for Americans
“Their only sin was just doing what they do best: keeping the safety of the people of Sudan, under the United Nations peacekeeping umbrella,” said Mthethwa.
He thanked President Jacob Zuma, former president Thabo Mbeki, the United Nations, the government of Sudan, and other role-players who contributed to the release of the four.
“The past three weeks have been difficult for us all,” said Mthethwa.
National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said it appeared that the hostage-takers had believed the four officers were Americans.
Melanzi jokingly said the Bafana Bafana football jersey could have helped. “Unfortunately we only wear it on a Friday and we were kidnapped on a Sunday,” he said.
Annett said he could not wait to see the sea again back home in the Western Cape.
Ramantsi said nothing had felt as good as “seeing a South African face”.
All have undergone medical, psychological examinations and will be receive support until they are fit to return to work. — Sapa