SA citizens arrest not verified
2008-08-21 18:03
Johannesburg - South Africa was on Thursday seeking to verify reports that two citizens had been arrested in Uganda, Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
"Consular services have so far not been able to confirm the arrest of these two South Africans," he said.
"However, our embassy in Uganda is in a process of verifying the arrests with the Ugandan authorities. Upon such verification, we will seek permission to visit them in prison to provide them with consular assistance."
Radio Islam reports that the men are Islamic cleric Mufti Hussain Bhayat, of Lenasia, and Haroon Saley, of Azaadville.
They were en route to Uganda from Kenya and were to have arrived at O R Tambo International airport on Wednesday morning.
Ugandan sources told the radio station the two were detained on Sunday at the Entebbe International Airport in Kampala.
"A government source confirmed this saying that they were stopped by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force of Uganda," it reported.
"Ugandan defence and army spokesperson, Major Paddy Ankunda, says the two are being held by the chieftaincy of military intelligence in Uganda.
"He says they are suspected of being allegedly involved in so-called terrorism activities and that is what's being investigated."
Radio Islam said that, according to Ankunda, the two had not been tortured.
- SAPA