Former al-Qaeda captive Yolande Korkie recalled on Monday how devastated she was by the news of her husband’s death, but also how relieved she was to know his suffering had ended. “When I heard of my husband’s passing at the time, I was relieved that his suffering was finally over.[…]
Former al-Qaeda captive Yolande Korkie had an emotional reunion in Bloemfontein at the weekend with the Gift of the Givers’ negotiator Anas al-Hamati, who helped secure her release in Yemen. “Yolande has met her negotiator for the first time,” said Gift of the Givers event co-ordinator Emily Thomas. “When they[…]
Slain South African teacher Pierre Korkie was laid to rest in his hometown of Bloemfontein on Friday, in an emotional memorial and funeral led by family, friends and former colleagues. Korkie was killed in a failed rescue attempt last Saturday morning, after being held captive by Al Qaeda members for[…]
Al-Qaeda has blamed President Barack Obama for the deaths of a US journalist and a South African during a failed hostage rescue attempt, warning “the lives of all Americans are in danger”. “Obama made the wrong decision, and signed the death warrant” of American Luke Somers, who was killed along[…]
The memorial service for slain teacher Pierre Korkie will be held in the Free State on Friday, a family spokesman said. The service would be held at the CRC Church, in Uitsig, Bloemfontein at 10am, spokesman Daan Nortier said in a statement. “The burial will be later and restricted to[…]
An Iranian journalist has lambasted the anti-terrorism legislation of the United States and South Africa, suggesting that the respective country’s outright refusal to negotiate was at fault for the unfortunate deaths of UK journalist, Luke Somers, and South African educator, Pierre Korkie. Both were killed by al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen[…]
International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Tuesday failed to clarify whether her department knew that Pierre Korkie’s release had been secured. “I had given you… specifics on what we did and knew about this particular case, from the time the hostages were taken to our interaction with the Yemeni government[…]
“I love you and tell the children I love them” — These were Pierre Korkie’s last words as he held his wife Yolande for the last time while in captivity in Yemen. “At least I got to say goodbye. They [the couple’s two children] never got to say goodbye. I[…]
The body of slain teacher Pierre Korkie has arrived in South Africa, the Gift of the Givers said on Tuesday. “The body arrived at 7am and is being taken for a post-mortem,” the organisation’s founder Imtiaz Sooliman said. “Yes, Yolande [Korkie’s wife] was there. She left to go there at[…]
The United States did not know about talks on the reportedly imminent release of a South African hostage who died in a U.S. raid on al-Qaida rebels in Yemen, the U.S. ambassador in South Africa said Monday. Ambassador Patrick Gaspard said American officials were “unaware of ongoing negotiations that had[…]
WhatsApp us 