Detained SA men 'in bad shape'
2004-03-16 23:50
Pretoria - One of seven South Africans in an Equatorial Guinea prison is seriously ill and desperately needs medical attention.
The men have been held in poor conditions since their arrest a week ago in connection with a so-called coup in the central African country.
"Bone" Boonzaaier of Polokwane, who is in his late 40s, has been without his daily medication since the men were arrested.
His friends said on Tuesday they were concerned about him because his condition was deteriorating rapidly. Nobody has been allowed near the men.
One of his friend said representatives of Amnesty International, who wanted to visit them, had been turned away.
A senior South African diplomatic official in West Africa also failed to gain access to them at the weekend.
Boonzaaier, a former specialist forces member, was a sergeant major based at 5 Reconnaissance Regiment in Phalaborwa until he resigned.
Air-transport and fisheries interests
He was shot in the arm during operational activities in the '70s and has very little use of his arm. As a result, he was declared medically unfit to act as a recce.
Boonzaaier is a business associate of Nick du Toit, who was also arrested. Du Toit has air-transport and fisheries interests in Equatorial Guinea.
Boonzaaier took care of the logistics of Du Toit's business, Triple Option Trading 610cc.
Mark Schmidt, another South African, who helped them with administration, was also arrested.
The crew, who flew a Russian cargo plane for Du Toit, was also behind bars.
Samuel Mondaisa, South African ambassador to Gabon, also responsible for Equatorial Guinea, said on Tuesday he would travel to Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday to find out what was going on.
"We are worried after seeing video material of the men and they seem pretty haggard. I want to go and see them and talk to them personally."
Monaisa said only seven South Africans were being held. Three of them, among them Boonzaaier and Du Toit, were born in South Africa. Three others were of Angolan descent and another one was from Sao Tome, but all were South African citizens.
They are George Alerson, JP Domingos, Sergio Cardoso and Abel Augusto.
They all have military backgrounds. Monaisa said he hads had no contact with them yet.
Trying international pressure
"I know they are being held in cells. One should accept that the conditions in Equatorial Guinea are not comparable to those in South Africa," he said.
The men's friends are trying to ensure the men receive medical care and food through international humanitarian organisations.
Meanwhile, they were also trying to gain access to them.
As soon as access is organised, a medical doctor and a legal representative will visit them.
Send e-mail to egibson@beeld.com