The South African High Commission in Maputo has managed to account for a total of 43 South Africans affected by the recent attacks in northern Mozambique, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the stranded South Africans were located in an area called Afungi in Palma coastal town which has been besieged by armed insurgents since last Wednesday.
“These include the two men who fled into the bush during the attacks on the Amarula Hotel convoy on 26 March, and a young South African who hid away and was found by search and rescue helicopters,” Monyela said in a statement.
He said some of the South Africans “are already back home whilst others have been moved to safe areas within Mozambique.”
“The High Commission remains seized with a track-and-trace process to determine whether there are any more South Africans who may have been affected,” the official said.
A South African is among dozens that have been killed since March 24 when militants linked to the Islamic State terror group launched attacks on Palma, which is located near a multibillion-dollar gas project being developed by a consortium led by French oil giant Total.
JN/APA