South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed was kidnapped last week Tuesday by unidentified gunmen near a hospital that is operated by aid group Gift of the Givers.
His family released a statement thanking the country for their support.
A night vigil was held on Wednesday night to pray for the safe return of Shiraaz Mohamed, hundreds of concerned relatives and friends of the abducted photographer crammed into the Lenasia South Civic Centre, urging his captors to release him unharmed.
Posters were plastered across the venue with messages such as “#ReleaseShiraaz” and “#BringShiraazHome”
Today marks the ninth day since Mohamed’s capture in the war-torn country, near the Turkish border.