/ 15 February 2011

Govt trying to verify nationality of kidnapped oil worker

The department of international relations and cooperation is trying to verify whether the person kidnapped while working for a British oil company in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a South African.

Department spokesperson Malusi Mogale said if the person was found to be a South African, the department would provide consular assistance.

“The mission is aware of the incident,” Mogale said.

News agency Agence France Presse reported on Tuesday that a South African was kidnapped on Monday while travelling with Congolese soldiers in the Virunga National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The army blamed the attack on Hutu rebels from neighbouring Rwanda who had long been based in the park. — Sapa