South Africa learned with great relief of the release on Thursday of the 12-year-old boy kidnapped in Malaysia, the international relations department said.
“The South African government extends its appreciation to the government of Malaysia for its role in bringing about the release of the child,” it said in a statement.
Nayati Shamelin Moodliar's parents told the South African High Commission in Kuala Lumpur they were reunited with him earlier in the day.
Nayati was safely returned to his family “hungry and tired”, his South African aunt said. In an interview with SABC news, Caroline Swanepoel said Nayati, who was kidnapped on his way to school, was safely back home.
“My sister said she will talk to us this afternoon, but she was off to the hospital with him to have routine a check up,” Swanepoel said.
“It's been the best news ever that Nayati is back... he came home hungry and tired.”
The boy is in Malaysia on a Dutch passport, but has South African family.
Malaysian police said on Thursday he was found after being kidnapped six days ago near his house in the Malaysian capital.
Kuala Lumpur city police chief Mohmad Salleh said Nayati was returned unharmed. The Moodliar family confirmed the child's safe recovery.
“We are delighted to tell you that Nayati is back home with us and, although it has obviously been a very traumatic time for him, he appears at this stage to be in good shape,” the Moodliar family said on a Facebook account set up to help find the boy.
“We cannot begin to say how proud we are of him and the way that he has coped with the events of the past week,” they added.
Moodliar was seized on Friday while walking to Mont Kiara International School by two men who dragged him to a waiting black car, police said.
The international relations department said it trusted the kidnappers would be brought to justice. - Sapa