One South African Killed in Mozambique Attacks

By: Bright Ntuli & Mfundo Mabaso

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has confirmed that one South African has died, Adrian Nel (40), in the recent attacks by Islamist militants in the town of Palma, Mozambique.

Militants hit the town, adjacent to gas projects worth $60 billion, following Total, a France based oil and gas company, announcing a gradual resumption of work in the Afungi Peninsula, in the province of Cabo Delgado.

Dozens have been killed and thousands displaced.

The South African High Commission in Maputo has managed to account for a total of 43 citizens in Afungi, and they include the two men who fled into the bush during the attacks on the Amarula Hotel convoy last week Friday.

The services provided by the High Commission include assisting South African citizens with emergency medical evacuation, obtaining emergency travel documentation and securing international flight transfers.

“Some of these nationals are already back home whilst others have been moved to safe areas within Mozambique,” explains Minister Naledi Pandor.

Pandor adds that the High Commission remains seized with a track-and-trace process to determine whether there are any more South Africans who may have been affected.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Total has confirmed that there are no victims among the staff employed on the site of the project in Afungi.

“Total has decided to reduce to a strict minimum level of the workforce on the Afungi site. The remobilisation of the project that was enisaged at the beginning of the week is obviously now suspended,” the statement states.