South African journalist Angela Quintal and her Kenyan colleague Muthoki Mumo, who were detained by law enforcement in Tanzania last night, have been released.
“South African journalist Angela Quintal and colleague are back in their hotel. They are safe and are now with the High Commissioner of South Africa, Thami Mseleku. The Commissioner is meeting with them to discuss last night’s events,” said the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson, Ndivhuwo Mabaya.
He said the Commissioner is expected to then engage Tanzanian authorities.
The journalists were detained in Tanzania, with their belongings searched and passports confiscated.
Quintal is the coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) Africa programme, while Mumo is the sub-Saharan Africa representative.
The pair is in Tanzania on a reporting mission.
A statement by the CPJ following the search said the two were escorted from the hotel and taken to an unknown location. CPJ’s Executive Director Joel Simon called on the authorities to “immediately release them and return their passports”.
DIRCO said Minister Sisulu is being kept abreast of the situation and briefed of all developments.
“The High Commissioner briefed Minister [Lindiwe] Sisulu last night and early this morning. The High Commissioner and his Kenyan diplomats will continue to engage with Tanzanian authorities until their passports are returned and all the facts have been established around their arrest,” said Mabaya. – SAnews.gov.za
