A 30-year-old South African man who disappeared while working in northern Mozambique has been released unharmed after spending almost a month in captivity, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has confirmed.
The man, who comes from Phalaborwa in Limpopo, was freed on Sunday, 4 October 2026, following efforts by South African diplomatic officials to secure his release.
He had reportedly gone missing during the first week of September while working as a mechanic at a camp in the Marrupa district of Niassa Province, in northern Mozambique.
Although the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, Dirco confirmed that the South African High Commission in Maputo worked with several stakeholders in Mozambique to help bring him home safely.
‘The South African High Commission in Maputo worked diligently with various stakeholders in Mozambique to render consular assistance and secure the release of the 30-year-old man,’ the department said.
Dirco did not disclose where the man had been held, what led to his disappearance or how the release was secured.
The department also confirmed that he left Mozambique on Wednesday, 7 October, following his release.
The South African government thanked its Mozambican counterpart for the assistance provided during efforts to secure the man’s freedom.
‘The South African government extends its gratitude to the Government of Mozambique for its efforts towards the safe release of the South African national,’ Dirco said.
It remains unclear whether anyone has been arrested in connection with the incident. Dirco has also not confirmed whether an investigation is under way.
For now, the man’s safe release brings an end to a period of uncertainty for him and those awaiting news of his whereabouts, although key questions about his disappearance and captivity remain unanswered.
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