South Africans trapped in Chad

2008-02-03 23:40

Cobus Coetzee

Johannesburg - South Africa's sole diplomat in Chad is locked in a struggle to get 11 South Africans out of the capital of the north African country on Sunday after an attempted coup in N'Djamena.

Acting charge d'affaires Gert du Preez, told Beeld on Sunday afternoon: "It's chaos. The rebels and Chad's army are firing at each other with guns and mortars, right in the capital. Hundreds of thousands of people live here."

Government troops were struggling to stay in control at the weekend, after an attempted coup d'etat by rebels in the east of Chad.

Du Preez tried from early on Sunday to persuade the French soldiers to go in and rescue the South Africans in armoured cars, and take them to the safety of the French defence force base.

He had contact only with two of the four groups of his fellow citizens.

One group was holed up in the home of Johnny van Schalkwyk, who works for cellphone company Celtel, in the middle of the city.

Not sure if they're alive

His home, which is near both the American embassy and the presidential palace, was hit by a mortar bomb on Saturday.

Du Preez said: "He said on the cellphone that he was still alive, but we should please come and fetch them."

That part of the city had been worst hit by the fighting since Friday.

The other South Africans comprise three who work for Venture Communications, a group of three Africa Cellular Towers employees and four people employed by a mining company known in South Africa as Blue Marine.

Du Preez said: "I don't know if the Cellular Towers guys and those from the mining company are still alive."

The cellphone network in Chad has not been operating since the start of the weekend.

One of Du Preez's biggest concerns on Sunday was where Theo de Klerk of Groot Brak River was. He is not with any of the South African groups.

"I don't know where he is," said Du Preez.

Heading for Gabon

However, De Klerk spoke to his wife, Cornell, on a crackling cellphone from Chad on Sunday and told her he was OK and on his way to Cameroon.

An emotional Cornell told Beeld: "He called and said 'Did you hear that? Do you hear the bombs falling? A couple of my colleagues and I are driving across the border to Cameroon'."

Hundreds of expats were waiting to leave Chad with the help of the French defence force at the weekend.

Some were headed for Libreville in Gabon, and this also was Du Preez's intended destination.

But, he said: "I won't leave before all the South Africans have left and are safely in Gabon."

Du Preez added that it was dead quiet in N'Djamena for the first time on Sunday afternoon. Apparently, the rebels were regrouping just outside the capital.

Du Preez said: "It was a mess earlier. The Chadian armed forces were shooting at the French, who were guarding the foreigners at the Meridian Hotel.

Will resume search on Monday

"I was dead scared. The entire ground floor of the hotel has been destroyed."

The French armed forces decided on Sunday night not to search for foreigners in the dark.

Du Preez said: "We'll resume the search for the South Africans at first light tomorrow.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the South African government was concerned about events in Chad, but had not yet issued a travel advisory.

- Beeld