By Tahir Sema
Foreign Affairs confirmed today that two South African men have been arrested in Uganda.
Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa says "Consular services have managed to confirm the arrest of these two South Africans".
He says "At this stage, efforts are underway to visit them in prison to offer them consular services". Mamoepa says the circumstances of their arrests were not yet known.
However, Radio Islam reports that the men are Islamic cleric Mufti Hussain Bhayat, of Lenasia, and Haroon Saley, of Azaadville.
They were en route to Uganda from Kenya and were to have arrived at OR Tambo International airport on Wednesday morning.
Ugandan sources told the radio station the two were detained on Sunday at the Entebbe International Airport in Kampala, Uganda.
"A government source confirmed this saying that they were stopped by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force of Uganda".
"Ugandan defence and army spokesperson, Major Paddy Ankunda says the two are being held by the chieftaincy of military intelligence in Uganda.
"He says they are suspected of being allegedly involved in so-called terrorism activities and that is what’s being investigated."
Radio Islam said that, according to Ankunda, the two had not been tortured.
The Chairman of Media Review Network Iqbal Jassat has expressed deep concern about the detention of these two people who are well known for their humanitarian and relief work.
On behalf of MRN we would urge the South African government to immediately intervene in securing their release. We find it outrageous that Muslim relief workers are constantly harassed under this discredited war on terror.
Read More »South African humanitarian workers arrested in uganda suspected of so called terrorist activities
