SA men in Uganda coming home

2008-08-29 10:31

Pretoria - Ugandan authorities deported two South Africans held for questioning for two weeks early on Friday morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

"South Africa's High Commissioner in Uganda Henry Chiliza has confirmed the departure of two South Africans from Uganda, who were detained in Kampala two weeks ago," spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.

This followed a decision by authorities in that country to deport them. They left Uganda at 06.30.

"They are on a flight and I have a spring in my step," said lawyer Yousha Tayob, who has been facilitating moves to secure the release of Mufti Hussain Bhayat, of Lenasia, and Haroon Saley of Azaadville on behalf of their families. He spoke to the two via cellphone while they were in the custody of airport police on Thursday and they were in good spirits.

"They sounded great, they sounded grateful to Allah and we are just happy they are on their way home and we are happy to receive them," Tayob told Sapa.

Neither Tayob nor Mamoepa could say yet why there were held and questioned. The two, who do work for Islamic humanitarian organisation Crescent of Hope, were detained on a stopover between Kenya and South Africa.

Tayob said he did not want to press the matter while speaking to them on Thursday night as officials were with them, so they would find out over the next few days what had happened.

- SAPA