South African special forces have freed two members of the government held hostage by former soldiers who demanded compensation for their participation in the fight against apartheid, local security services said on Friday (October 15th).
The incident, which left no injuries, occurred late Thursday, October 14, during a meeting between the ex-soldiers and officials, including Secretary of State for the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Secretary of State Defense Thandi Modise.
“As we were leaving the meeting, heading for the exit, they closed the doors.
That's when we realized we were being held hostage, ”Gungubele said in a video statement.
The two officials headed the team tasked with discussing the demands of veterans aligned with liberation movements who fought to overthrow white minority rule more than two decades ago.
The meeting took place in a chic hotel on the outskirts of the capital Pretoria.
No shots fired
According to the police, no shots were fired during the intervention of the special forces who had however failed to negotiate the release of the hostages.
"After the failed negotiations, the police resorted to a tactical approach and succeeded in rescuing the hostages," police spokesman Vish Naidoo said in a statement.
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The veterans were asking to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss their demands, including a cash payment of four million rand (233,000 euros) and additional funding to help former soldiers set up businesses.
They are likely to be charged with at least three counts of kidnapping.
