Andre Hanekom

Francis and Andre Hanekom (Photo: Lowvelder)

Maritime businessman Andre Hanekom dies in Mozambique while in custody

Andre Hanekom, the South African businessmen who was arrested in Mozambique on charges of terrorism, has died in custody under mysterious circumstances.

Andre Hanekom

Francis and Andre Hanekom (Photo: Lowvelder)

As reported by Tereasa Dias from The Lowvelder, the events leading up to Andre Hanekom’s death are still unclear. A spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said they will refer to the High Commissioner in Mozambique to investigate the matter.

Hanekom’s daughter, Amanda, said on social media that her father passed away “early this morning in mysterious circumstances in the hospital in Pemba.” She added:

“His court case was going to be next week, and he would have won, we have mountains of proof of his innocence. My heart is so broken and hollow, my dad was our rock when anything was down, he gave us strength.”

Two days ago, on Hanekom’s birthday, Amanda took to Facebook and wished him “freedom, health, happiness, and time with his family again.”

Arrested for alleged involvement in extremist jihadist activities

Hanekom had been living in Mozambique for 35 years and was arrested in August 2018 when Mozambican prosecutors claimed he was the leader of terrorist cell.

They claimed that several items confiscated from his home would be used to build a case against him. However, Hanekom’s wife, Francis, said the allegations were false and that the confiscated items were regular household items.

Authorities confiscated syringes, pangas, arrows and gunpowder. According to the Francis, the syringes were used to inoculate goats, the arrows were bought from street vendors as decoration, and every household in Mozambique has a panga.

“The police confiscated insignificant normal stuff from my house, and use this as proof that Andre is a terrorist. Seriously. Did they take pangas? Every home in Mozambique has a panga or two, as it is used for various tasks in and around the home. How to open a coconut? Use your panga. How to slash shrubs and bush on the property? Use pangas.”

She suspected at the time that the gunpowder was taken from the distress flares on their boats, and maintained that Hanekom was being set up because “influential people desire Andre’s property on the beach.”