The South African Parliament has called for the release of two businessmen, Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea since February 2022. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention supports their claim of unlawful imprisonment, linking their arrest to a broader legal conflict involving the Equatorial Guinea vice-president. Families of the men received the parliamentary motion with gratitude, highlighting significant public support for their release.
The Parliament of South Africa has unanimously expressed its support for the release of two South African businessmen, Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, who have been imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea since February of the previous year. This legislative action follows a formal recommendation by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which deemed their detention unlawful and called for their immediate release. The ongoing legal turmoil surrounding South African assets owned by Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has placed the two engineers in a precarious situation, as they appear to be embroiled in a conflict that is largely out of their control. The parliamentary motion condemned the arrests and urged South African officials to expedite the men’s release, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to uphold international law and human rights principles. The families of Huxham and Potgieter have expressed gratitude for the support, particularly highlighting the overwhelming response from the public and international communities in favor of their release.
In February of the prior year, Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter, both engineers in the offshore oil and gas industry, were arrested in Equatorial Guinea under charges allegedly related to drug smuggling. The legal situation coincided with the arrest of a superyacht linked to Vice-President Obiang, as well as the seizure of his luxury properties in Cape Town, pending a civil lawsuit by another businessman who previously faced imprisonment in Equatorial Guinea. This complex geopolitical situation has raised serious concerns regarding the legitimacy of the charges against Huxham and Potgieter and highlighted issues of hostage diplomacy.
In conclusion, the unanimous motion passed by the South African Parliament represents a significant step towards addressing the plight of Peter Huxham and Frik Potgieter. With the endorsement of the UN’s stance on their detention, there is hope for swift action from South African authorities aimed at securing their release. The combined efforts of the public and international community are pivotal in bringing attention to this situation, emphasizing the importance of human rights and justice within the global arena.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
