The South African government has welcomed the release of two of its citizens, Peter Shane Huxham and Frederic Potgieter, from detention in Equatorial Guinea following a presidential pardon.
The two engineers, who work in the oil and gas industry, were arrested on February 9, 2023, and later sentenced to 12 years in prison on drug-related charges. They were also fined 93 million rand (approximately $5 million) each.
Their release comes after Equatorial Guinea’s President granted clemency, ending nearly two years of imprisonment. South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, expressed relief at their return, thanking the Equatorial Guinean government for the pardon.
“We welcome them back in South Africa with dignity,” Lamola said. “The presidential pardon from the president of Equatorial Guinea, who found it in his wisdom to grant clemency, is a great relief to the South African government and the families.”
Lamola also extended gratitude to the families of the two men, their employer, and the South African public for their support during the ordeal. He emphasized the importance of national unity in resolving such challenges.
“This cooperation represents what can be achieved by South Africans if we work together as a nation,” he said.
Huxham and Potgieter expressed joy at their return, relieved to be back in South Africa’s constitutional democracy. The government, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, commended the families for their resilience and cooperation throughout the diplomatic efforts.
The case had drawn significant attention, with South African authorities engaging in sustained negotiations to secure their release. The men’s return marks a positive conclusion to a lengthy and difficult diplomatic process.