SA sailors set to be freed in Angola

Keith Sapto.

Keith Sapto.

Published Apr 9, 2015

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Two sailors trapped on the fishing vessel Bluegate in Lobito Bay, Angola, for more than two weeks are set to be released.

Angolan authorities seized the vessel and crew had to hand over their passports because the Nigerian boat owner did not pay docking fees.

But on Wednesday afternoon Keathélia, daughter of first mate Keith Sapto, received a message from her father saying he and captain Angus Gilbert would be freed.

“I don’t know why the rest of the crew can’t leave. I received info from our parliament to say the captain, who is in hospital, will require R25 000 for his flight, and the rest of the crew will need about R8 000 for each flight,” the 28-year-old Keathélia said.

She told the Cape Times that despite the good news regarding the passports being handed back, the families in Cape Town were still deeply concerned about the fate of their loved ones.

First mate Sapto, 62, of Brackenfell, is constantly sending messages to his family pleading for help, with one reading: “We are suffering tremendously, no food or water for three weeks. A delivery of the vessel to the owner based in Nigeria has turned into a nightmare.”

The captain, chief engineer Ebrahim Mohamed Abdul and four other crew members have been stranded since March 23.

Initially, the trip was supposed to last about a week. After a problem with the engine and a lack of fuel, the crew was forced to stop in Angola, contrary to the owner’s instructions.

“After receiving SMSes last night (Tuesday) from my dad indicating that they had no food and water, I felt I had to do whatever I could for them. I then pleaded to the Facebook community to assist the men on the vessel.

“A young group of Angolans were like God-sent angels that heard my cry,” Keathélia said yesterday.

Until Tuesday night, the crew had survived by boiling rain water to drink and eating maize meal.

But for the first time in three weeks, the sailors were able to share a plate of food and a few rolls. Angolan students allegedly even fought with local police to deliver the groceries.

Last Thursday, Gilbert, 57, from Lansdowne, had a mild stroke and was taken to hospital only a day later. Sapto then managed to call Gilbert’s daughter Olivia.

It was the first time relatives in South Africa had heard about the dreadful situation family members found themselves in.

“It was more than a shock. Sitting here in Cape Town and knowing that my father is not even supplied with certain medical standards is highly distressing,” Olivia said.

She was also told Sapto had been severely ill before and Angolan authorities had refused to supply him with medication, thus they had to use all the supplies on the vessel to doctor him.

Olivia and Keathélia said the Department of International Relations and Co-operation had told the families it was up to the crew to contact the owner to settle the debt in order for them to get their passports, and that the government did not financially assist in such situations.

South African embassy officials visited the crew on board as well as the captain in hospital on Tuesday. They were negotiating with Angolan authorities for the passports to be handed back.

Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for the department, said: “We are doing everything possible to assist them. The fact that it happened in Angola, where South African law does not apply, as well as the circumstances that the owner was clearly avoiding to pay fees, made the matter complicated.”

Families in Cape Town have not stopped supporting the sailors. Keathélia said: “I am still personally arranging for food to be delivered to the crew.”

“I promise every man on board that I will not give up until they are back home,” Olivia added.

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Cape Times

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