Pretoria, 19 March 2025 – As South Africa marks Human Rights Day on 21 March, the families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham are calling on the government to continue their diplomatic efforts to secure the men’s release from unlawful detention in Equatorial Guinea. At the same time, they are imploring the President of Equatorial Guinea to grant the men clemency.

Human Rights Day in South Africa is dedicated to reflecting on the country’s hard-won freedoms and commitment to justice, peace and human dignity.

Frik and Peter, both South African engineers, have now endured more than two years of arbitrary imprisonment, despite the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) opinion in July 2024 that their detention is both unlawful and arbitrary. The UN called for their immediate release, yet they remain behind bars, their physical and mental health deteriorating, and their families left in anguish.

“This is a day when South Africa reflects on its values of justice, human dignity, and freedom,” say Shaun Murphy and Francois Nigrini, spokespersons for the families. “It is also a moment to ask why two South African citizens remain unlawfully detained, deprived of their fundamental human rights, despite an international request for their immediate release.”

South Africa has a proud history of advocating for human rights on the global stage, playing a leading role in diplomatic efforts to uphold justice and the rule of law. The families believe that securing Frik and Peter’s release is not only a matter of extreme urgency, given their ailing health, but also a test of South Africa’s commitment to protecting its own citizens from injustice abroad.

The families are urging the South African government to:

• Intensify diplomatic engagement at the highest levels with Equatorial Guinea, to ensure that the situation is analysed and processed through the appropriate framework.
• Ensure urgent intervention from DIRCO and the Presidency to push for their immediate release.
• Demonstrate that human rights are defended not only in principle but in action.

The families of Frik and Peter have written to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, to plead for clemency. They believe the President has the power to show compassion. As a father and a devout Catholic, the President of Equatorial Guinea can grant Frik and Peter clemency and put an end to this suffering. The families once again appeal directly to him for mercy.

“We once again appeal to President Obiang with hope in our hearts. A gesture of clemency would not only reunite two innocent men with their families but also affirm Equatorial Guinea’s fundamental commitment to principles of justice and human dignity. On a day that honours human rights, we believe in the power of mercy and humbly ask him to grant it. As quoted often by our beloved Nelson Mandela, whom we believe had a close relationship with the President of Equatorial Guinea: You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”

The families continue to call on the South African public, civil society, and the international community to support their fight for justice. The petition demanding Frik and Peter’s release remains open, with close to 16,000 signatures from around the world.

#FreeFrikandPeter

• Note to Editors:
  A fact sheet with full details of Frik and Peter’s case can be found on the Free Frik and Peter website.
• The families launched an online petition and social media campaign to raise awareness and gather support.

Petition link: Over 15,000 signatures and counting

Website: https://www.freefrikandpeter.co.za/

Petition with 11 000 signatures

Social media:

• On X/Twitter – https://x.com/frikandpeter
• On Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/frikandpeter