THE grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, Mandla, has released a video in which he says he has been abducted by the Israeli state.
Mandela is part of the Global Sumud Flotilla campaign, which is heading to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.
The activists raised alarms on Wednesday that their boats had been intercepted by Israel in international waters.
Mandela has called on the South African government to demand his immediate release.
The South African Government says they are working hard on the ground to rescue citizens who are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla campaign.
Government has condemned the latest developments.
Dirco spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says, “We’re working very fiercely to verify a lot of the information that’s in the public domain and we’re trying to establish contact with some of our counterparts who are on the flotilla, South Africans.
But it does seem as though the interception thus far has not been in a manner that has harmed humanitarians or civilians in particular.”
He adds: “It does seem as though the ship that Mandla Mandela was on has been intercepted, but that seems inconclusive and we need to understand exactly where the other South Africans are and what the latest is. Moreover, we need to understand what the Israelis’ next steps will be, whether they intend to deport the South Africans who are there.”
Image supplied (Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, has released a video in which he says he has been abducted by the Israeli state. He’s recorded aboard the boat with medical supplies and children’s nappies that are meant for delivery in Gaza).
