Nick du Toit alive - envoy
2004-03-18 17:30
JOhannesburg - South African government officials confirmed on Thursday that suspected mercenary Nick du Toit is alive and in prison in Equatorial Guinea.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said South Africa's ambassador to Gabon, Mokgethi Monaisa, and foreign affairs deputy director-general Kingsley Mamabolo were in Equatorial Guinea.
"The two officials visited Du Toit in prison and confirmed that he was alive.
"This puts paid claims that a South African has died in detention in Equatorial Guinea," he said.
Mamoepa said the two officials were still in Equatorial Guinea on Thursday afternoon, but could not comment further about the visit.
French news agency AFP earlier quoted Spanish newspaper El Pais as reporting that Du Toit had died on Wednesday after being tortured.
It is claimed he was the leader of a group of coup plotters arrested in Equatorial Guinea last week.
A man identified as Du Toit appeared on television in the central African country last week.
German died of cerebral malaria
He reportedly said he had led a group of mercenaries there on a mission to abduct President Teodoro Obiang Nguema and force him into exile.
Equatorial Guinea government spokesperson Antonio Fernando Nve Ngu said on Thursday a German, one of the 15 accused plotters, had died of cerebral malaria.
AFP reported that Gerhard Eugen Nershz was transferred on Tuesday from Malabo's central jail to hospital on the recommendation of the prison doctor.
"He received the appropriate care, but died a few hours later of cerebral malaria with complications," said Nve Mgu said in a statement read on state radio.
Apart from Du Toit, the Equatorial Guinean authorities have identified the suspects only by giving a list of nationalities, saying they came from South Africa, Angola, Armenia, Sao Tomé and Principe and Germany.
- SAPA