As you know, Mr Korkie was kidnapped together with his wife, Yolande, whilst in Yemen in May 2013. The kidnappers released Yolande on 10 January 2014, and Pierre remains in captivity. Relations between South Africa and Yemen are cordial, and the two countries share membership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) etc. While in Yemen, we held a wide range of meetings, including with representatives of the Yemeni Security Services, the Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Ali Muthana Hassan, the Foreign Minister, Dr Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Abdul Qader Qahtari, as well as the Prime Minister, Mr Mohammed Basindwah. On 21 January, we held consultations with the President of Yemen, H.E. Abdel-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Available at: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2014/ebra0123.html