THE leaders of South Africa and Equatorial Guinea condemned the activities of mercenaries in a joint communiqué yesterday , following the release of five men jailed over a 2004 coup plot in Malabo.

Briton Simon Mann and four South Africans were freed on Tuesday after receiving a pardon from the man they tried to overthrow, Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. President Jacob Zuma made a one-day official visit to the oil-rich state on Wednesday for talks with Nguema, a visit that is suspected to be linked to their release.

In a statement issued after their talks, the two leaders made no mention of the five freed men, but denounced soldiers of fortune and called for greater efforts to curb their activities.

“In respect of the fight against terrorism, mercenary activity and piracy, both heads of state have condemned without reservation these evils and renewed their determination to fully contribute to the efforts of the international community to combat and eradicate them,” the statement said.

Mann returned to Britain on Wednesday, but the four South Africans – Nick Du Toit, Sergio Cardoso, Jose Sundays and George Alerson – have yet to return home. They will not face local criminal charges when they return home, South Africa’s Justice Ministry said .

“These people have been arrested tried, convicted and served a term for their crimes. They have paid for their sins and they will not be charged again,” said Justice spokesperson Tlali Tlali.

They had been sentenced to 34 years in prison but were granted presidential pardons on humanitarian grounds .

However, Tlali said if new allegations against the four were to emerge, new charges will be investigated.

“If it appears that there are other allegations they were never tried for, these allegations will receive the attention of the law agencies,” he said.

Nguema released the mercenaries because he had learnt from former President Nelson Mandela to forgive, Zuma said yesterday.

Addressing a gathering of African traditional leaders in honour of Madiba in Pretoria, Zuma said he had been at a press conference with Nguema on Wednesday night when a journalist asked why the mercenaries had been released. He said Nguema had said: “I’m one of those who has been taught by Mandela that as Africans we must forgive.”

Zuma said the gathering would be an annual event. Mandela “did not see a contradiction between the traditional system and the modern democratic system.”

One of Mandela’s goals was for political and traditional leaders to work together, Zuma said. — Sapa- AFP