Their passports were taken away, they are deprived of food and water and have no idea when they will return home. This is the plight of a six-man crew that left for Nigeria aboard the Bluegate fishing vessel, early last month.
They are now stranded in Angola because the owners of the vessel they were transporting couldn’t pay the docking fees.
With about 45 years of sea experience, 63-year-old Keith Sapto from Brackenfell has never experienced anything like this, according to his family.
In an SMS he sent to his daughter, Keathélia, he described the conditions they have been under for more than three weeks as “a nightmare”.
“We are suffering tremendously, no food and water for three weeks. A delivery of the vessel to the owner based in Nigeria has turned into a nightmare.”
His daughter said they had been trying to get their father back home and have turned to the Department of International Relations and Co-operation for help.
“When we spoke to them, they said they would send someone from the consulate and we are hoping that happens. They can’t even get off the ship because their passports were taken away,” said Keathélia.
She said the family was anxious about the situation especially because there was not much they could do.
“My mom is very stressed. She had a bad feeling from the start about this trip but she had to let him go work because he needs to make money. This is the first time something like this has happened to him.”
Keathélia said the trip was only meant to last a week but her father had left home in February and the only way they could contact him was by SMS.
“It’s up to the crew members to contact the owner to settle the debt in order for them to get their passports. I am not sure how long it will take to contact the real owners and if they even have money to settle the debt, and until then my dad and his crew must suffer.
“I also question why the SA embassy in Angola did not try to contact us. Why did we have to read on the internet about this horrific situation?”
She said they had received word of the situation after learning that the captain, Angus Gilbert, suffered a mild stroke while on the vessel last Thursday.
The department’s spokesman, Clayson Monyela, said they were doing their best to help the stranded crew but they also had to respect the laws of Angola.
“The ambassador is aware and trying to assist, but the country has its own laws and if there are problems with the documents then Angola is not in the wrong.
“Angola wants their money and the owner can’t be contacted. Our priority is to get them assistance, to try to get them food, water and their travelling documents back.”
Monyela said that even in South Africa, vessels that docked were expected to pay fees and have their documents in order.
Cape Argus