After more than two years behind bars in Equatorial Guinea, South African engineers Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham have finally returned home, reuniting with their families after a harrowing ordeal that drew international attention.
The two men, both in their mid-fifties, were arrested in February 2023 when authorities claimed to have found drugs in their luggage. Despite their protests of innocence, they were handed a 12-year prison sentence and a hefty $5 million fine. Their families, supported by the South African government and human rights advocates, never stopped fighting for their release.
The timing of their arrest raised eyebrows. Just days earlier, South African authorities had seized luxury assets belonging to Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang, including a yacht and two villas in Cape Town. Many believed the engineers’ detention was an act of retaliation.
Potgieter and Huxham had been working for a Dutch oil and gas company and were preparing to return home after a five-week assignment when they were unexpectedly detained. Their families endured a long and painful wait, describing the past two years and four months as “unimaginably painful.”
Their release came after a presidential pardon from Equatorial Guinea, following intense diplomatic efforts and a campaign that spanned continents. The United Nations had also called for their freedom, labeling the charges and their detention as arbitrary and illegal.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister expressed deep gratitude to Equatorial Guinea for granting the pardon, allowing the men to return to their loved ones. The fate of the seized assets remains in the hands of the courts, with South African officials stating that the government cannot interfere in the legal process.
As Potgieter and Huxham settle back into life at home, their story stands as a testament to the power of persistence, diplomacy, and the unwavering support of family in the face of adversity.