Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs is concerned about reports of the attack on a diamond mine in Yetwene in the Lunda Norte region of Angola, which led to the abduction of one South African national and other foreign nationals. On hearing the news the Department immediately requested its Embassy in Luanda to approach the United Nations Observer Mission to Angola (MONUA) and the Angolan Government in an effort to secure the early release of the hostages. It should, however, be borne in mind that the region in question is extremely unstable and not easily accessible.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is also in close contact with the senior management of the company Diamond Works, the employers of the missing persons, who are also seeking to secure their early release. The Department would like to repeat its previous warnings that it is in the interests of South Africans intent on travelling to these volatile areas to register their presence with the Department of Foreign Affairs or their nearest South African diplomatic mission, as a minimum precaution.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 11 NOVEMBER 1998