By Caiphus Kgosana, Tsabeng Nthite, Sapa-AP and Reuters
South African envoy Nicky Scholtz was snatched last weekend by a gang of kidnappers as he left his Malaysian hotel for a stroll - possibly because they thought he was American or British.
Career diplomat Scholtz, 54, who became deputy high commissioner to Malaysia on April 20, was dumped next to a highway by his abductors early on Sunday. He then walked, barefoot, to the South African High Commission offices in Kuala Lumpur.
Scholtz suffered minor bruises and was under observation in a hospital, but he was otherwise well, police officials said.
Malaysian police were on Sunday afternoon still debriefing Scholtz about his abduction, and had not made any arrests.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said the department had not yet spoken to him.
Scholtz's only relative, his brother Danie Scholtz, said from his Paarl home: "My brother called me at about 2am. He did not say much, only confirming that the people who abducted him had released him and that he was fine."
"Nicky never married and had no children. He was loyal and very dedicated. This incident is the last thing we imagined could happen to him."
"The last few days have been difficult. I had so many questions that could not be answered. But the Foreign Affairs officials were in constant contact with me."
Dr Abbey Nkomo, South Africa's high commissioner to Malaysia, said Scholtz had hardly settled in the country and had still been staying at the Hotel Nikko in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, when the incident occurred.
"We are happy to report his release. At the moment a debriefing exercise is under way and a final statement will be released by the Malaysian authorities after the investigations have been completed."
According to Nkomo, Scholtz - a former ambassador to Taiwan and Hungary - told hotel staff last Sunday evening that he was going for a walk. He was then accosted on the street by a group of men, blindfolded and bundled into a vehicle before being driven about 60km out of the city.
It is believed that Scholtz was assaulted by his captors. It has also been established that withdrawals of 3 000 Malaysian Ringgit (about R5 160) had been made from Scholtz's bank account by his captors.
Dr Anil Sooklal, deputy director-general for the Middle East and Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs, said Scholtz's captors beat him and even threatened that he would be killed. Malaysian police were establishing whether or not they made any ransom demands.
Scholtz was supposed to have attended a conference early last week, at the Hotel Nikko, but was only missed on Wednesday.
Hotel staff checked security cameras, which revealed two men entering his room and leaving with a plastic bag.
The tape has been handed to police. Sooklal said the suspects might have mistaken Scholtz for an American or British citizen, only to release him once news of his disappearance - as well as his nationality - became public.