Egypt s Ambassador to Pretoria Ahmed El-Fadely receives the two freed Egyptian students in South Africa. Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook page.
Momen Haitham Kamel and Fady Said Mahmoud, two student pilots at ATIS Aviation Academy in Gauteng province in northeastern South Africa, were kidnapped on 14 May.
Since then, the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria has been working with the South African authorities and the flying academy, which is located in both Egypt and South Africa, to free the students.
Egypt’s Ambassador to South Africa Ahmed El-Fadely received the two students after they were freed and reassured their families that they are in a good health.
El-Fadely said the embassy has preferred to deal with the issue without media attention to ensure the safety of the kidnapped nationals and secure their safe and smooth release, noting that any information leak could have endangered the lives of the students.
The ambassador hailed the South African authorities’ cooperation with the Egyptian side regarding the issue, saying such solidarity reflects the firm relations binding Egypt and South Africa.
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