VOC News has learnt that a 22-year-old Durban man has allegedly been killed in fighting in Syria. According to reports, the man left South Africa some time ago with his brother. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, but there are reports that he joined a group fighting against ISIS. The man is the son of a well-known mufti and advocate in Durban.

When VOC News contacted his father on Tuesday, he remained tight lipped about the details. He said the family were trying to find out more about his son’s death. He refused to confirm whether his son had traveled to the Syria region.

However, several sources have confirmed the man’s death. On Tuesday, social activist Yusuf Abramjee told VOC News he had reliable information that the man had died in Syria, but it remains uncertain whether he died while in combat. The man has been identified by his moniker ‘Abu Dujana’. He said the family would release a statement in due course. 

Abramjee tweeted:

The Department of International Relations (Dirco) could not confirm the death but said it would follow up.

Its widely believed that there are many South Africans who are fighting on the battle-lines of Syria or living there to do humanitarian work.

Last year, it was reported that 38 year old Bilal Cajee from Vereeniging‚ who reportedly left South Africa in September 2015 to join a group in Syria‚ had died in conflict. Cajee was the fourth South African believed to have been killed. His brother Ahmed was reportedly also killed in Syria in 2014.

The South African Department of State Security spokesperson Brian Dube has previously said there are a number of reports of people claiming to be working in war torn countries such as Syria and Iraq. But he has warned that any kind of mercenary activity is illegal, and “if they do so the law will take its course”.

The Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act explicitly prohibits South African citizens from taking up arms overseas, and Dube said that the department is doing everything in its power to prevent citizens from doing so. VOC