Somali pirates holding hostage a Durban couple have demanded a $10 million (R70 million) ransom from the South African government and say that, unless the ransom is paid, they will “make an example” of their hostages.
This was confirmed on Thursday by a source close to the family of one of the hostages.
Bruno Pelizzari and Deborah Calitz of Durban were abducted by the pirates after their yacht Choizil, skippered by another kwaZulu-Natal man, Peter Eldridge, was hijacked on November 1. Eldridge refused to leave the yacht and was later rescued by naval forces. The trio had been en route to Richards Bay from East Africa.
The family friend, who did not want to be named as the family did not want the information leaked to the media, said the pirates had demanded the money despite being told by the family that this was not a reasonable demand considering the exchange rate and personal circumstances.
The ransom demand phone call was made from Somalia directly to a family member in mid-December.
There are also said to be Somali nationals in Durban who are keeping the pirates abreast of what is going on.
When phoned for comment on Thursday regarding the ransom, a relative of Pelizzari did not wish to comment. However, the relative did say that the family had written to the department of international relations and co-operation asking them for advice on what to do, and how to take the issue forward. The department then called the family to Pretoria to discuss it.
This meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, the same day the department is due to hold a media briefing on the situation.
Department spokesman Clayson Monyela would not reveal what issues would be raised at the briefing, nor would he elaborate on whether ransom had been demanded, whether contact had been made with the pirates, or on any other developments. All such issues would be discussed at the briefing. He said the families of both Pelizzari and Calitz would be present to “interact” with the media and answer any questions.
Andrew Mwangura, the director of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance programme in Mombasa, Kenya, and world-renowned hostage negotiator and “Pirate Whisperer” - about whom a Hollywood film, starring Samuel L Jackson, is being filmed - said on Thursday he had also heard about the $10 million ransom. He said, however, that all hostage negotiations were currently “on hold” because the pirates were “jumpy” and “under pressure”. As such, all hostages had been taken further inland.
The tension, Mwangura said, was because there was currently a lot of military action in the area.
Last week, the South Korean navy launched a rescue mission which resulted in eight pirates being shot dead and five arrested. “There is no talking right now. All negotiations are on hold at the moment. They will probably check out the situation and then start talking again afterwards.”
Mwangura said the pirates did not know initially that Pelizzari and Calitz were South African, as Pelizzari is of Italian descent and Calitz of English descent. However, when they found out “it maybe complicated their mission”.
He added that there was the possibility that the $10 million ransom might be dropped to $7 million or even $6 million. - The Mercury