SA's five in Kenya chaos

SOUTH Africa's high commissioner in Kenya, Ratubatsi Super Moloi, says five South Africans were among those held hostage in the Westgate Mall attack.

One of them was 57-year-old James Thomas, who was killed in the siege.

The others were two women and two children.

"The one woman was reportedly with the group that James was with. The other South Africans are all fine, but they are traumatised and have asked to be given some space.

"Even us officials are traumatised by this event.

"The staff here will need counselling after going in and out of the mortuary trying to identify bodies, and back and forth to the police. It has affected us all."

Moloi said one couple who were trapped in a fire escape had communicated with them via SMS.

"Communicating with us, it was a very tragic situation because there was only so much we could do," he said.

He wasn't clear on whether the couple were South Africans.

Moloi said Thomas's body was flown back to Cape Town on Friday afternoon.

His family said the provisional date for the funeral is Wednesday.

Thomas's family and friends issued a press statement describing him as a gentle giant.

"He was known for his bear hugs and his complete intolerance of poverty and unemployment,"they said.

Moloi said it was unclear whether any South Africans were trapped underneath the rubble, after the building of the Westgate Mall collapsed.

"We will only know once the investigations are complete. Right now it's a crime scene.

"We also want answers. We never thought that something like this could ever happen," he said.