APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) South African paramedic Gerco van Deventer, freed by al Qaeda militants over a week ago on the Algerian border after being held captive in Mali since 2017, spent Christmas Day at home with his family.
Van Deventer’s wife, Shereen, said on Tuesday that her husband was “in good health and spirits, and has been spending his time reconnecting with his family.”
The family, however, did not give the date when the paramedic arrived home.
Van Deventer was captured in November 2017 by a splinter group of Al-Qaeda in Libya before being “sold off” to the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin Al-Qaeda group in Mali in 2018, making him the longest-held South African hostage in captivity.
Three Turkish engineers seized at the same time were freed after seven months, but van Deventer remained in the kidnapper’s custody before being moved to Mali for his detention, according to reports.
The South African was released early this month through Algeria where he received medical care before being transported home.
South Africa’s humanitarian aid group Gift of the Givers said it was instrumental in negotiating the paramedic’s release from the hands of the jihadists following a request by the van Deventer family.
NM/jn/APA