Non-profit Gift of the Givers has announced that Gerco van Deventer, a South African paramedic who was kidnapped in Libya more than six ago, has been reunited with his family.
Also read: Al-Qaeda splinter group releases WC man after six years
Van Deventer, who was held captive by a splinter group of Al Qaeda, was released earlier this month, making him the longest-held South African hostage in history.
In their announcement, Gift of the Givers thanked the multiple intermediaries who played a role in his release, including those in Mali, Morocco, Mauritania and Niger.
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‘We thank Algerian State Security for accepting Gerco, it wasn’t possible through two other countries, we thank SA State Security who have been extremely helpful and cooperative in the entire process, we met personally on several occasions.
But our greatest thanks go to the real hero without whom the release would never have been possible, Mohamed Yehia Dicko, Gift of the Givers negotiator who left no stone unturned to make this a reality.
‘He never gave up, went to Mali for weeks at a time sacrificing his family, his personal interest, his time and himself.’
See their announcement here:
The organisation also extended their well-wishes to Van Deventer’s family: ‘We praise the Almighty that Gerco made it home to Shereen and Asher for Christmas and we are immensely relieved that an ordeal of six years and one month is finally over. Gerco was the longest-standing South African hostage in captivity. We wish him well as he moves forward in his ‘new’ life.’
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Picture: Screenshot of video by The Story Teller ZA / YouTube
