SA crew stranded in Equatorial Guinea

[Gunship]

Talks are scheduled on Monday between certain companies involved in a string of aviation deals that went wrong in Equatorial Guinea, allegedly causing two South African air crew members to be stranded in the oil-rich West African state.

Within the saga has been an allegation that the two are being held as an "insurance" and that Equatorial Guinea's minister of finance is a partner in one of a string of companies involved in the dispute.

Meanwhile, Nisha Pillay of Johannesburg, whose brother Sechan has not been able to leave the country since November 17 when his passport was seized at Malabo airport, is anxious for him and his colleague Ruwaide Kalvine to come home.

Global Aviation Leasing CEO, Daniel Rosenzweig, said Venatto Trading had a contract to fly one of its aircraft, signed through a deal with Air Quarius.

Venatto was then contracted to fly goods for a local airline, Getra, between the country's island capital Malabo, Bata on the mainland, and Douala in neighbouring Cameroon, said Venatto managing-director Mike Commorant.

Rosenzweig said that when the aircraft had to leave Equatorial Guinea, a Venatto representative physically removed the two from the aircraft.

"He stated he would hold them as an insurance pending the insurance of the aircraft," said Rosenzweig. "Crew cannot be a negotiating chip. This is reprehensible."

Commorant would not comment, except to say "the story is getting twisted", that the allegation was "totally incorrect" and that on Monday morning he was about to go into a meeting with Air Quarius to sort things out.

He said he had battled to meet with Rosenzweig.

Nonetheless, Commorant believed the issue would be resolved.

"It is not a big issue. I am sure it will all be resolved by the close of business today."

Rosenzweig said his company was dealing directly with the department of foreign affairs, which could not be reached for comment - both in Pretoria and in Equatorial Guinea.

Rosenzweig said that Getra - Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos - in which Equatorial Guinea's finance minister had a stake, had been flying hazardous materials, arms and ammunition and acting in breach of safety regulations.

The aircraft had left the country to have its brakes repaired, said Rosenzweig.

Meanwhile Pillay's sister said that while she had been assured that her brother was safe and being housed and fed while being kept against his will, he and his colleague could just as well be housed and fed back home.

The two crew members are staying at the home of a member of the South African Embassy. - Sapa

[Deanw]

SA air crew held in dispute

28/11/2005

Erika Gibson

Pretoria - A dispute about money between two airline companies who both have shareholders in South Africa and Equatorial Guinea developed into a "hostage situation" in which two young air hostesses are being held at ransom and prevented from leaving the EG.

The two air hostesses from Johannesburg, Ruwada Kaldine, 18, and Sechan Pillay, in her late 20s, have been held since November 17 after their passports were confiscated as a guarantee that the airline company employing them would complete a contract in EG.

Daniel Rosenzweig, general manager for flight operations at GAL Aviation, said the two women have become the innocent victims of a dispute in which GAL had no part.

GAL supplied a DC-9 aircraft and crew on contract Air Quarius at Lanseria six weeks ago.

Air Quarias subcontracted the aircraft to Venatto Trading and Getra, an Equatorial Guinean airline company.

Concern about safety

These two companies have, among others, an EG citizen and a minister of the EG government as stakeholders. Since the contract kicked in, GAL has found out that Getra expected from the crew to break several aviation rules.

For instance, they had to work longer hours than internationally prescribed, and dangerous cargo, such as weapons and ammunition, were transported along with passengers.

Rosenzweig said Daniel Janse van Rensburg, a South African who was earlier held in EG because of mercenary activities, was Getra's representative in that country.

Air Quarius notified the two companies that there was concern about the safety of the aircraft and the crew.

The two companies, however, ignored this notification and on November 9 Air Quarius gave notice that the aircraft and crew would be withdrawn.

If the companies wished to negotiate further, they would have to do so directly with GAL.

On the evening of November 17, Janse van Rensburg physically forced the two air hostesses from the plane with the words that they were his "insurance" that GAL would later return to the country to complete the contract.

The rest of the crew flew to Chad, from where they contacted Rosenzweig. "They were very worried about the hostesses' safety," he said.

"Last week they would have been allowed to leave. We bought the tickets. At the airport, Getra's representative refused to hand over their passports, and they again had to remain behind."

"Even the presence of the South African ambassador at the airport didn't help. Since then the women are living in one of the embassy homes. He said he had meanwhile determined that Venatto Trading owed Getra $285 000.

"Getra expected GAL to pay this money, despite GAL having no contractual agreement with any one of them.

"This is kidapping and blackmail. We hope to find a solution this week in co-operation with foreign affairs."

News24

[Gouabafla]

If you are going to get stranded/held, EG isn't the place to choose.

Wishing them all the best and a swift return home.

[Gunship]

Not a nice feeling for any crew and to top it all it is EG ... :mad:

Johannesburg - The department of foreign affairs has appealed to the government of Equatorial Guinea to either charge or release two South African air crew not being allowed to leave the West African country.

Sechan Pillay and Ruwaide Kalbine have been unable to leave since November 17.

They are believed to be pawns in a battle involving a string of companies involved in an aviation deal that went wrong.

It is claimed they are being held as "insurance" and that Equatorial Guinea's minister of finance is a partner in one of the companies involved in the dispute.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Nomfanela Kota said: "The department is in consultation with Equatorial Guinea so that they are not simply being kept there because of difficulties between two companies.

"We are in constant consultation with the authorities in Equatorial Guinea," she said.

Made a string of deals

Meanwhile, Pillay's sister, Nisha, is anxious for her brother and his colleague to come home.

First in the line of companies that made a string of deals was Global Aviation Leasing (GAL), which entered into a contract with Venatto Trading to fly one of its aircraft, signed through a deal with Air Quarius, said chief executive Daniel Rosenzweig.

Venatto was then contracted to fly goods for the local airline Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra) between the country's island capital Malabo, Bata on the mainland, and Douala in neighbouring Cameroon, said Venatto managing-director Mike Commorant.

Rosenzweig said that when the aircraft had to leave Equatorial Guinea, a Venatto representative physically removed Pillay and Kalbine from the aircraft.

"He stated he would hold them as an 'insurance' pending the insurance of the aircraft," said Rosenzweig.

"Crew cannot be a negotiating chip. This is reprehensible."

The story was "getting twisted, said Commorant, who added that the allegation was "totally incorrect" and that on Monday morning he was to meet with Air Quarius to sort things out.

"Our contract is with Air Quarius," he said.

He said he had battled to meet Rosenzweig.

Nonetheless, Commorant believed the issue would be resolved.

"It is not a big issue. I am sure it will all be resolved by the close of business today (on Monday)."

On Monday afternoon, Commorant could not be reached for comment.

Rosenzweig said his company was dealing directly with the department of foreign affairs. "All we want is our crew back," he said.

Flying hazardous materials

Rosenzweig said that Getra - in which Equatorial Guinea's finance minister had a stake - had been flying hazardous materials, arms and ammunition and acting in breach of safety regulations.

The aircraft had left the country to have its brakes repaired, said Rosenzweig.

Pillay also said that while her family appreciated the foreign affairs support, they felt that GAL, which employed the two, should be doing more to resolve the dispute and ensure their safe return.

[exjet]

Having spent time in EQ, I have to ask the question - how can the skipper of this DC-9 leave 2 hosties in this country?

I would though he would have been responsible for their welfare while on board 'his' aircraft. Maybe he was to be paid more to get the aircraft out and the 2 in quetion were in the way. Maybe a gun to his head - I just wonder.

[Jangys]

Exjet,

Makes sence, maybe because the skipper was not from SA?

[Gunship]

EG STALLS RELEASE OF CREWS The foreign affairs department is facing challenges in its efforts to secure the release of two South African air crew members stranded in Equatorial Guinea, where they are pawns of companies involved in a dispute.

Spokesperson Nomafela Kota said on Wednesday the department had informed the families of Sechan Pillay and colleague Ruwaide Kalbine of these challenges.

However, she would not divulge what they were to the media.

Pillay's sister, Nisha, confirmed that she had met foreign affairs officials as well as Global Aviation Leasing (GAL), her brother's employer.

Kota said the department had been in talks with Equatorial Guinea's representative in Pretoria.

Asked whether the matter had caused any rift in relations between the two countries, she said: "For now, no. We just have to wait for the process to reach its final conclusion."

The country's diplomatic office in Pretoria could not be reached for comment.

It is alleged that the local airline, Getra, held Pillay and Kalbine as "insurance", when an aircraft the two worked on for Johannesburg-based Global Aviation Leasing (GAL) left Equatorial Guinea.

Its departure on November 17 took place amid accusations by GAL that Getra and another company, Venatto Trading, were breaching safety regulations.

Within a string of deals, first in the line of companies was GAL, which entered into a contract with Venatto Trading to fly one of its aircraft, signed through a deal with Air Quarius.

Venatto was then contracted to fly goods for the local airline Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra) between the country's island capital Malabo, Bata on the mainland, and Douala in neighbouring Cameroon.

Equatorial Guinea's finance minister is believed to be a shareholder in Getra.

LINK (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1843188,00.html)

[Gunship]

The employer of the two South African air crew being held in Equatorial Guinea will consult Amnesty International if talks between the two governments do not secure their release.

Global Aircraft Leasing (GAL) chief executive Daniel Rosenzweig said on Thursday: "To be fair on the department of foreign affairs, if their talks are still not going anywhere, we must go the next step and take it up with Amnesty."

His staffers, Sechan Pillay and Ruwayda Kalbine, have been held against their will in Equatorial Guinea for two weeks while two companies involved in a string of aviation sub-contracts bicker about payments.

Rosenzweig said: "I am frustrated; they (foreign affairs) do not seem to be taking this with any degree of urgency.

"I would dearly like foreign affairs to be more proactive and urgent in what they are doing, but there does not seem to be a sense of urgency about what they are doing."

'Don't bother about diplomacy'

He said Equatorial Guinea was known for the lack of rule of law.

"They do not bother about diplomatic connections with South Africa or anyone."

Foreign affairs spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota would not comment on Rosenzweig's remarks.

One of the companies involved, local airline Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra) is partly owned by the west African country's finance minister Mereelino Owono Edu, said Rosenzweig.

"It is alleged that the minister of finance had denied them permission to leave the country."

Rosenzweig said sending any more GAL staff to Equatorial Guinea to fetch the two would be risky, as they, too, might be taken hostage.

"We can consider (going to Equatorial Guinea to negotiate), but not while people are being held hostage. It's not a quid pro quo. We want our people out."

That six South African mercenaries were in jail for plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea could be contributing to the impasse, he said.

LINK (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1843983,00.html)

[B Sousa]

Johannesburg - The department of foreign affairs has appealed to the government of Equatorial Guinea to either charge or release two South African air crew not being allowed to leave the West African country.

Sorry, something here is wrong. SA has purchased Swedish Fighters, manufactured the Rooivalk and numerous other toys....
Why dont they just drop in and kick some ass.....
Diplomacy sucks, look at the mess in Iraq........

[european champion]

BSousa u forgot we live in 2005,diplomacy is the only way to solve things,we dont live in Wild West.

[Solid Rust Twotter]

"BSousa u forgot we live in 2005,diplomacy is the only way to solve things,we dont live in Wild West."

Which probably explains why the world is in the shape it is....:rolleyes:

Soldiers are usually sent in to clean up the mess diplomats have made.

[B Sousa]

BSousa u forgot we live in 2005,diplomacy is the only way to solve things,we dont live in Wild West.

Im sorry, Merry old England is in fine shape...........Last time I checked when going through immigration I thought I was in the wrong country.......But at least you have diplomacy.
I would love to see you sing that song as your pale butt walks down mainstreet in Bagdhad..........

[MysticFlyer]

".....and all the king's(queen's) horses and all the queen's men,

couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again!"

WWIII thanks to the policies followed by Bush, Blair and the enlightened and crafty ones. How much money is enough? Please it's a rhetorical question. 33 (1/3) degrees? Anyone one this forum that rich?

:p
Ok, Pik is not allowed to answer, but then again....

[Gunship]

About R1,8-million - that's how much money must change hands before the two South Africans held up in Equatorial Guinea can return home safely.

It is almost two weeks since Global Aviation Leasing (GAL) cabin crew members Ruwayda Kalbine and Sechan Pillay had their passports confiscated and have been left stranded in Equatorial Guinea.

According to GAL chief executive Daniel Rosenzweig, if payment of R1 817 600 could be made, his crew members would be released. "It is understood from communications with the department of foreign affairs that Venatto owes (Guinean Airliner) Getra (Guinea Ecuatorial de Transportes Aereos) a refund of $284 000," Rosenzweig said on Thursday. But he denied knowledge of details of the transaction.

He said his company had nothing to do with the deal and his crew members did not have to be held up in that country.

According to Rosenzweig, GAL entered into a contract with Venatto Trading - signed through an agreement with Air Quarius - to fly one of its aircraft. Venatto was then contracted to fly goods for Getra between the country's island capital Malabo, Bata on the mainland, and Douala in neighbouring Cameroon.

"This commercial arrangement, whereby the lessor of the aircraft supplies aircraft services through a broker to a third party, is not uncommon in the aviation world," he said.

Rosenzweig confirmed earlier reports that Getra had asked the airport commissioner to confiscate the crew members' passports and was using them as "negotiating chips" to get the money owed.

Venatto's director Mike Commarmond, who was earlier quoted as having said if GLA wanted their crew back they should "go and get them", could not be reached for comment. Executive director Didier Pereira, who refused to comment, said Commarmond was overseas.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nomfundo Kota said yesterday that negotiations were at an advanced stage to have Kalbine and Pillay returned safely to SA, but refused to comment on the commercial dispute.

[email protected]

LINK (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20051202070327910C457054)

[Gunship]

Please do not forget our fellow fliers out there ... :mad: :mad: Pretoria - South Africa's director-general of foreign affairs has convened a meeting with Equatorial Guinea ambassador Juan Ncuchuma to try to secure the return of two nationals being held in that country.

"The director-general Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba yesterday (Tuesday) took the extraordinary step of inviting the ambassador of Equatorial Guinea... to a meeting at the Union Buildings to discuss the current delay of departure of two South Africans," department of foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said on Wednesday.

An "urgent message" from the South African government was conveyed through the ambassador to the authorities of Equatorial Guinea.

"It is our hope and wish that this will lead to an early resolution of the current situation with a view to ensuring an early return of the two South Africans back home," Mamoepa said.

Aircrew members Sechan Pillay and Ruwayda Kalbine have been held in Equatorial Guinea for five weeks due to problems between two companies involved in a string of aviation sub-contracts.

They have been staying at the house of a South African embassy staffer in the capital Malabo for the past two weeks.

Family members on Tuesday urged the South African government to become more involved in trying to secure the men's freedom.

Pillay and Kalbine were refused permission to leave Equatorial Guinea and their passports were confiscated last month.

The Equatorial Guinea airline Getra - believed to be partly owned by finance minister Mereelino Owono Edu - has demanded payments from the Johannesburg-based Venatto Trading.

Pillay and Kalbine's employer, Global Aviation Leasing, entered into a contract with Venatto Trading - signed through an agreement with Air Quarius - to fly one of its aircraft.

Venatto was then contracted to fly goods for Getra between the island capital Malabo, Bata on the mainland, and Douala in neighbouring Cameroon. - Sapa

LINK (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1133966521731B225)

[Solid Rust Twotter]

At least they're not stuck in a cell.:(

Hope it all comes together for them...

[B Sousa]

EC, its Dec 8.....Hows your diplomcay you twit. Based on SRT's post they are still there.........

[Gunship]

Two South Africans held up in Equatorial Guinea have had their passports confiscated again and will not be returning home as expected.

Ruwayda Kaldine, 18, and Sechan Pillay, 24, were about to board a plane to South Africa on Tuesday when their travel documents were seized by airport officials without explanation.

It is now 25 days since the two cabin crew members, who are contracted to South African aviation company Global Aviation Leasing (GAL), were prevented from leaving the West African country, effectively being placed under house arrest.


'This is getting too much for us'
The two are caught up in a financial dispute involving GAL, Venatto Trading and a local airliner, Guinea Equatorial de Transportes Aereos (Getra).

The families were shattered by the news. "I am so disappointed and upset... This is getting too much for us," said a distraught Hamidi Kaldine, Ruwayda's mother.

Said Nisha Pillay, Sechan's sister: "This has taken its toll on all of us... My sister is not functioning properly and my father, who had a stroke three weeks ago keeps asking about Sechan."

Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa confirmed on Tuesday the seizure of the passports.

"Our diplomatic mission in Malabo (in Equatorial Guinea where the two are held) had issued new passports to the cabin crew. This was done openly with relevant authorities in Equatorial Guinea properly informed about this," said Mamoepa.


'We are looking at other diplomatic avenues'
"Upon arrival at the airport today (Tuesday) their passports were confiscated.

"However, we are looking at other diplomatic avenues to ensure the two South Africans return home."

Mamoepa seemed surprised at the turn of events as the department held an urgent meeting with the Equatorial Guinea ambassador last week.

"In that extraordinary meeting we gave the ambassador a diplomatic note expressing the urgent need to get the two cabin crew back home safely," he said.

GAL chief executive Daniel Rosenzweig confirmed reports that on November 20 Getra had asked the airport commissioner to confiscate the crew members' passports and was using them as "negotiating chips" to get the R1,8-million owed to Getra by Venatto.

LINK (http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=vn20051214064739597C504353)

[MysticFlyer]

Now what brew is now going on in the emerging nations and what is being added to it? Herewith a snapshot from the past, and hopefully this rubbish could now end soon.

"In Kenya long ago, the Mau Mau murdered white farmers; in Malawi, the leader Hastings Banda substituted witchcraft for statecraft; in Burundi assassins took the lives of two state ministers. Pres. Omar Bongo of Gabon faorbade the word "pygmy," possibly because he himself was less than five feet tall. He took care however to surround himself with a bodygaurd of tall German veterans who liked to sing the 'Horst Wessel' song.

The president of Benin murdered a Foreign Minister, found in bed with the First Lady. On Congolese television the corpse of a government official was shown in prime time, his mouth stuffed with dollar bills. In Equatorial Guinea a Foreign Minister was clubbed to death by the head of state."

A mine magnate once said, it takes a very bad manager to spoil a good mine...., neither he nor his family would make the first "chicken-run" - saying good-bye to friends, selling house, and emigrating to Europe or America or Australia - thought of it as silly.

I think I choose a civilised way, it worked for years in the real civilisations.....politics mixed with greed.:yuk:

MF

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Errmmmmm....

Last time I looked the SA passport belonged to the SA govt (even though paid for, so technically belonging to the holder). Not sure it's legally allowed to confiscate a passport.:confused:

Although this is Africa where the rule of law is sacrosanct... :rolleyes: :hmm:

[MysticFlyer]

Do I smell a Griphon in the tall grass......:ooh:

Bata's toughies may be in for some swift footwork soon.:hmm:

[Gunship]

The amount needed to secure the freedom of two South African air crew being held in Equatorial Guinea was still under discussion on Thursday.

"It is certainly less than the $285 000 that has been spoken about," said Mike Commarmond, director of Venatto Trading, which had a contract with the airline Getra, partly owned by the West African state's finance minister.

The amount demanded involved the cost of flying hours lost after Venatto sub-contractor, Global Aviation Leasing (GAL) - the employer of the aircrew - apparently withdrew an aircraft from service on realising Getra was breaking air safety rules.

"We are moving forward every day on the commercial side," said Commarmond.

The passports of air crew Sechan Pillay and Ruwayda Kalbine, have twice been confiscated as they tried to leave via the airport in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea.

Other agenda?

GAL chief executive officer Daniel Rosenzweig, who recently consulted Amnesty International in London, was beginning to doubt whether the agenda of Equatorial Guinea's finance minister was money.

"I am wondering what really is going on," he said.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said earlier this week the department was doing everything in its power to bring them back.

It was in constant touch with the Pillay and Kalbine families on all development.

Foreign affairs director general Ayanda Ntsaluba invited Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to South Africa Juan Nchuchuma to the Union Buildings last week for talks.

Nchuchuma left for his country soon afterwards with an "urgent message" to authorities in Malabo, aimed at securing the release of the aircrew.

Foreign affairs could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

LINK (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1851503,00.html)

[MysticFlyer]

The capitol moved off-shore to Santa Isabel, not Bata anymore.....hey getting old here...anyway, running will be done, one day covers mainland, half a day, the offshore, depending who's causing the excercises....Baas, jy nog hier?

:p

[Gunship]

RELEASED !

Welcome home guys ... :ok:

Two South African air crew held captive in Equatorial Guinea for 35 days have started the last leg of their journey back to Johannesburg, the foreign affairs department said.

"The plane has taken off and the two are on their way home from Libreville. We expect them home tonight," spokesperson Nomfanelo Kota said

FULL STORY (http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1854236,00.html)

[MysticFlyer]

Ahhh that a boy!

Methinks the families and friends should have one big nice Christmas together.

Great that it turned out this way, me really happy too!

MF:O

[Solid Rust Twotter]

Great news!:ok:

Thanks for the heads up, Guns.:D

[Romeo E.T.]

They are home. Heard on the 702 talk radio midnight news that they arrived earlier on tonight. They even had a short interview with one of the cabin attendants as well. talk of "human rights, frightening experience etc", I can well believe this. Welcome back!!!! and merry xmas to them and their families. I suppose also a bit of a congrats to the SA govt for the diplomatic work done to get these pawns away from this bussiness deal and back to their families esspecially for the xmas season.

my 1c worth

[Gunship]

http://www.news24.com/Images/Photos/2005122208075122_Aircrew.jpg

WELCOME HOME :ok: