Cape Town - Twelve South African pilots who were detained in
Namibia are considering suing the country's government for unlawful arrest, it
was reported on Tuesday.
"The group believe the harsh and vindictive treatment
experienced over several days was unwarranted. The group were denied due
process, were unlawfully arrested and regarded as criminals," their spokesperson
Ron Weissenberg told The Cape Times.
He told the newspaper the group would report the incident to
the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which administers the
International Civil Aviation Organisation and international aviation treaties.
The pilots and eight passengers left South Africa on 27 April
on a 16-day trip across Botswana and Namibia.
The pilots were arrested at Ondangwa Airport on 4 May,
apparently because their flight documents were not in order. They were released
early the next morning.
Fresh charges were then laid against them, but they were not
re-arrested.
They each paid a R400 fine, acquired the correct
documentation and returned home on Thursday.
