Gift of the Givers today made a direct appeal to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to help the South Africans being held in China for suspected terrorism activity.
Five South Africans are scheduled to fly out of Inner Mongolia tomorrow but five more have yet to be released from detention.
“We call upon Deputy President‚ Cyril Ramaphosa‚ to raise the issue of the detained South Africans directly with the highest authority in China as he and an entourage of government ministers and business executives are on a state visit to that country‚” Gift of the Givers said in a statement.
“It is inconceivable that a government hosts another government on a state visit and simultaneously incarcerates 10 of its citizens without charge. The Chinese must be told in no uncertain terms to provide the evidence and proof if the South Africans have terror links‚ charge them and take them to trial‚ alternatively‚ they must release them immediately and unconditionally.”
The organisation said the families were considering appointing a lawyer in China‚ “but to defend what‚ as no charges have been put to them”.
A total of 20 people in a tour group were detained at the weekend‚ including South African‚ British and Indian nationals.
Following an intervention by both the South African and British governments in China yesterday‚ it was agreed that 11 of the 20 detainees would be released. They are being held in detention until flights have been finalised for them out of China today and tomorrow.
The five other South Africans‚ three British and one Indian national are not free to leave.
“No charges have been put to the group but the Chinese have been very vague saying that someone in the group has some links to a suspected terror group and that someone has some links to a banned group and that the real reason for the incarceration is that someone was watching propaganda videos in the hotel‚” Gift of the Givers said.
“We now have received information that the Chinese government has put out a statement saying that criminal charges will be put to the group. We don’t know what that means…Family members are extremely worried and want finality on the issue.”
Appeal to Ramaphosa to help detained South Africans in China
Gift of the Givers today made a direct appeal to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to help the South Africans being held in China for suspected terrorism activity.
Five South Africans are scheduled to fly out of Inner Mongolia tomorrow but five more have yet to be released from detention.
“We call upon Deputy President‚ Cyril Ramaphosa‚ to raise the issue of the detained South Africans directly with the highest authority in China as he and an entourage of government ministers and business executives are on a state visit to that country‚” Gift of the Givers said in a statement.
“It is inconceivable that a government hosts another government on a state visit and simultaneously incarcerates 10 of its citizens without charge. The Chinese must be told in no uncertain terms to provide the evidence and proof if the South Africans have terror links‚ charge them and take them to trial‚ alternatively‚ they must release them immediately and unconditionally.”
The organisation said the families were considering appointing a lawyer in China‚ “but to defend what‚ as no charges have been put to them”.
A total of 20 people in a tour group were detained at the weekend‚ including South African‚ British and Indian nationals.
Following an intervention by both the South African and British governments in China yesterday‚ it was agreed that 11 of the 20 detainees would be released. They are being held in detention until flights have been finalised for them out of China today and tomorrow.
The five other South Africans‚ three British and one Indian national are not free to leave.
“No charges have been put to the group but the Chinese have been very vague saying that someone in the group has some links to a suspected terror group and that someone has some links to a banned group and that the real reason for the incarceration is that someone was watching propaganda videos in the hotel‚” Gift of the Givers said.
“We now have received information that the Chinese government has put out a statement saying that criminal charges will be put to the group. We don’t know what that means…Family members are extremely worried and want finality on the issue.”
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