Shereen Van Deventer News Today

Van Deventer was freed just over a week ago following lengthy negotiations between aid group Gift of the Givers and the militants.

Six years after he was kidnapped in Libya, Gerco van Deventer was released and is in an Algerian hospital, according to Gift of the Givers.

A 48-year-old South African father and paramedic has been released after enduring over six years in captivity under jihadists in Mali.

Western Cape resident Van Deventer has been held hostage for almost six years following his kidnapping in Libya in 2017.

The free release of Gerco van Deventer negotiated by Gift of the Givers seems to be hanging by a thread as Al Qaeda remains mum.

A hostage negotiator seeking the release of Gerco van Deventer has received confirmation from his captors that the process of decision-making on the request for his unconditional release is under way.

Swellendam paramedic Van Deventer has been held captive for more than five years in Mali following his kidnapping in Libya in 2017.

In a video released on Sunday by humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, kidnapped South African Gerco van Deventer has pleaded for assistance to gain his freedom.

The Gift of the Givers has engaged the captors of paramedic Gerco van Deventer, who has been held hostage in Mali since November 3 2017, said director Dr Imtiaz Sooliman on the return of their negotiator this week to South Africa.

As the Sunday Times team was on deadline, our office was hit by a power cut. It was therefore fitting that we were busy putting the finishing touches on our front-page story.