Efforts are underway to increase diplomatic pressure and secure the release of two Marumo Gallants club leaders, who have been detained in Benghazi for two weeks. The South African government is scheduled to meet with the Libyan Ambassador this week, according to a report published by the South African online newspaper, TimesLIVE.
Siphosezwe Masango, the South African Ambassador to Tunisia, who has been working to obtain the release of physio, Tebogo Dhlomo and media officer, Rufus Matsena, confirmed the meeting.
Masango stated that Abdel-Qader Al-Nazif, the Libyan Ambassador to South Africa will meet with Fadl Nacerodien, the department’s top director for the North and Central Africa sections.
The department was updated on the situation regarding efforts to free the pair, when he met with them on Friday. This led to the meeting.
“We specifically asked the department to speak with the Libyan Ambassador, and engage Libya via all diplomatic channels,” Masango added.
Club chair, Abram Sello claims that Matsena and Dhlomo are being “kept captive” by Dr. Ali Elzargha, the proprietor of a hotel in Libya. Sello said that Elzargha was attempting to extort money from him.
Sello requested aid in a letter to Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Affairs, last week. Lunga Ngqengelele, her Spokesman, acknowledged receiving the letter, but denied knowing about the meeting with the Libyan Ambassador.
Sello said that Elzargha assisted his team in purchasing tickets for the 19 March Caf Confederations Cup game in Libya. In the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benghazi, Gallants fell short of Al-Akhdar 4-1 in their group-stage encounter.
He said that while Gallants’ research revealed the tickets were worth R6,000 apiece, the invoices the club was provided represented inflated values to the tune of R35,000 for each ticket. Sello said Elzargha requested R700,000 in exchange for releasing Matsena and Dhlomo.
TimesLIVE has learned that the Libyan government will likely give the hotel owner instructions to release the club officials.
Masango revealed to Sowetan on Sunday that he last spoke to Matsena on Sunday morning. He claimed “they were in bad shape and wished to return home. They don’t seem to be doing well mentally or spiritually.”
