Johannesburg - The government has put a lid on information about slain South African teacher Pierre Korkie, who was killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen on Saturday.
Korkie’s widow Yolande had called a media conference in Joburg on Tuesday to thank the public for “the tremendous support” it had given her family since her husband was kidnapped in May last year.
But moments after the media invitation, the family’s spokesman, Daan Nortier, told The Star that the government had “taken over” the briefing.
“The minister of international relations and co-operation (Maite Nkoana-Mashabane) is coming and is taking over the (media) conference,” said Nortier.
He later issued a statement indicating a change of venue and confirming that the minister would attend.
“I was advised that minister (Nkoana) Mashabane will also attend the press conference. The venue and time has, therefore, changed (from Joburg to Pretoria),” he said.
This comes amid concern from some sections of the public that Korkie’s life could have been spared if the US had not launched a rescue operation, storming the al-Qaeda hideout in a bid to save American photographer Luke Somers, 33.
Korkie was executed a day before he was due to be released by his captors, according to Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the SA humanitarian relief group Gift of the Givers, which facilitated the negotiations.
US ambassador in South Africa Patrick Gaspard said on Monday that American officials “were unaware of the ongoing negotiations that had any resolution” on Korkie’s imminent release.
“We were just completely unaware of those developments and had to act hastily,” he said, echoing US President Barack Obama and military officials’ defence of the ill-fated operation.
Obama said the US had to act because information indicated that Somers’s life was in danger because al-Qaeda had threatened to execute him within 72 hours.
Asked if Korkie’s murder could have been averted, Nortier said: “Yolande will be taking questions about their (family’s) experience, but no questions will be entertained which might be directed to draw her into any controversy.”
Condolences continued to pour in for Korkie on Monday.
Athlete Zola Budd expressed sadness at the death of her ex-coach and friend.
“I am very saddened by Pierre’s death and my heart goes out to the family. He had a profound influence on my life and I will miss him,” she said.
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said: “Sad and shocked at the death of Pierre Korkie. We in the Anglican Church send our condolences to his wife Yolande and their family. As we mourn his death and that of Luke Somers, we call on all nations involved to expose those who maintain extremism of groups such as al-Qaeda.”
At the time of his kidnapping in Yemen, Korkie was a teacher, while his wife did relief work in hospitals. Yolande was later released.