Issued by: GCIS
President Thabo Mbeki has noted with sadness the disappearance on Saturday 24 July of the fishing trawler Palli HJA Marianu south of Cape St Francis in the Eastern Cape and its 25 missing crew.
The president thanks the Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centre for the rescue of nine survivors and expresses his confidence that the Centre will spare no strength nor effort in its endeavour to find the missing crew-members. In this context the President welcomes the determination of the sea rescuers to continue with their rescue mission despite the bad weather conditions.
President Mbeki joins countless other South Africans in expressing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends of the 3 crew-members confirmed dead.
26 July 1999
Issued by Communications Unit
The Presidency
Private Bag X1000
Pretoria
0001
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