Pirate negotiator Andrew Mwangura believes that the two South Africans taken hostage by Somali pirates last year are still alive, the Sunday Times reported.
The Durban couple, Deborah Calitz and Bruno Pelizzari, and skipper Peter Eldridge were sailing from Dar es Salaam to spend Christmas with friends and family in South Africa, when they were confronted by pirates off the Tanzanian coast on October 26.
Eldridge was able to escape after refusing to leave the yacht, but the pirates forced Pelizzari and Calitz off the vessel.
Mwangura, director of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme in Kenya, said he was concerned about the couple's health.
“Hostages are usually given pasta, rice and goat meat. That is the staple diet and only food available in that region.
“Pelizzari and Calitz have been moved up and down, so to get any details has been very, very difficult,” he said.
“I think they are okay.”
Mwangura said the pirates had halved the US10 million ransom demand this week for the safe release of the couple. - Sapa