Kidnappers threaten to behead South African held in Yemen

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Al Qaeda operatives holding South African teacher, Pierre Korkie, hostage in Yemen have threatened to behead him if a ransom of $3-million is not paid by Friday.

The founder of the Gift of the Givers organisation, Imtiaaz Sooliman, says his Yemeni office manager Anas Al Amati, met the kidnappers on Tuesday after he was able to secure the release of Korkie's wife, Yolandi, without paying a ransom.

Speaking on the DMB on Algoa FM, Sooliman said they never broke dialogue with the kidnappers.

He said there was a face to face meeting on Monday night and again on Tuesday where an Al Qaeda leader insisted that the money be paid by Friday or Pierre would be killed.

Sooliman said that they have a new strategy that will be implemented on Wednesday.

"I am hopeful that it might just turn the tide, but for now we are not focusing on the money, the emphasis is on the extention of time." said Sooliman