Somali pirates threaten to kill captives from SA
SOMALI pirates, who kidnapped Durban couple Bruno Pelizzari and Deborah Calitz almost a year ago, have threatened to kill them if the US$4-million (R33-million) ransom is not paid soon.
HUGE RANSOM: Bruno Pelizzari and Debbie Calitz have been held captive since October last year.- For Somali pirate victims, abuse and long captivity
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In a phone call made to his sister Vera on September 5, Pelizzari said: "I know you are doing everything you can. If they do not get the ransom, they are going to kill us".
Vera yesterday said it was the first time that she had spoken to her brother since the kidnapping.
"I know he is alive. I heard his voice and I knew it was him," she said.
Vera said a pirate named Ali had been calling her weekly.
"I explained to him that we are not rich. I told him that it is going to take time to get the money," she said.
Desperate to raise the amount, Pelizzari's family have registered a trust, SOS Bru and Deb Trust.
"We have been forced to beg for donations. We had to get the NGO certificate and then the stamp and approval of the government so the trust has only been active since Thursday. We have also opened a SMS donation facility. The SMS costs R10 and so far we have received about 200 text messages," Vera said.
International relations spokesman Clayson Monyela yesterday said the government has a policy not to pay ransoms therefore the couple's families were dealing with the kidnappers.
"There is no real latest on the issue. The people who have taken the couple are speaking to the family because we do not pay ransoms," he said.
In the meantime the Pelizzari family are clinging to the hope that the couple may be home by Christmas.
"I am hoping but . I know the ransom demand is very high. They won't be released without the ransom paid up," Vera said.
Pelizzari and Calitz were aboard a yacht with skipper Peter Eldridge when Somali pirates boarded it on October 26 off the coast of Tanzania.
Eldridge refused to leave his vessel, but the couple were forced to go with their captors.
ELJE
We will have to deal harshly with these Somalians they are ruling the seas with terror for greed. My heart goes out to all the family members and I wish and pray that they release them ASAPReport Abuse
Cartman
Bruno Pelizzari....Is he even South African? People come n take refuge in this country, live large n wen they're in trouble, we gotta come to the rescue..Good luck to the family, i'll send the sms too..Report Abuse
ayobaness
this is a scam durban couple has a connection with those somaliansthis is another way of making money i know that kind of a situation
when some1 is kidnaped they know most people will jump nd donate money
pls people be careful thats how most people get rich
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Sinudeity
Cartman - "wen they're in trouble, we gotta come to the rescue"Who have we rescued? You dont mean the journalist in Libya right?
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MommaC
I understand how the piracy started but it is completely out of hand now. Its time for those African solutions to our African problem - namely blowing the buggers out of the water.My heart goes out to the family - this must be a nightmare.
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cornelius
@Africanist. You shouldn't start drinking so early in the morning because you are showing a racist, criminal nature, playing into the stereotype of " African Savage". I think you should read a little more about Africanism before calling yourself " Africanist ". Your comments show the opposite of pride in being an African.Report Abuse