Renewed Hope for South Africans Detained in Equatorial Guinea Following Minister’s Visit

South African Minister Ronald Lamola’s recent visit to Equatorial Guinea has given hope to the families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, who have been illegally detained since February 2023. The visit focused on addressing the detention’s challenges and emphasized the need for urgent medical care for the men due to their deteriorating health.

Recently, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, visited Equatorial Guinea. His visit has instilled new hope in the families of two South African engineers, Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, who have been detained on unfounded drug charges since February 2023. The dialogue aimed to address their continued detention, which has raised significant concerns about their wellbeing.

The families of the detained engineers expressed a renewed sense of optimism following Minister Lamola’s engagement with Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simeón Oyono Esono Angue. Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini, representatives for the families, emphasized that the visit reflects a crucial step towards securing the release of Potgieter and Huxham, who have devoted years to supporting Equatorial Guinea’s oil and gas sector.

The prolonged detention has severely impacted the men’s physical and mental health. Both have chronic medical conditions, have experienced significant weight loss, and suffer from severe psychological distress. The situation has prompted prison authorities to seek immediate medical assistance due to their deteriorating health condition.

Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, two engineers from South Africa, have been detained in Equatorial Guinea since February 2023 under dubious drug trafficking accusations. Their ongoing detention has sparked international concern, specifically regarding their treatment and health within the prison system. The South African government’s efforts, particularly through Minister Lamola’s recent diplomatic visit, aim to address these issues and advocate for the engineers’ release.

Minister Ronald Lamola’s visit to Equatorial Guinea offers the families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham renewed hope amid their unjust detentions. The engineers’ health has become a critical concern, prompting calls for immediate medical attention. Ongoing diplomatic efforts continue in hopes of resolving this alarming situation and securing their freedom.

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