Hope not lost
Modest informer rejects offer of reward after prime suspect is nabbed in Moz
ON the eve of the seventh day of a massive manhunt following the disturbing disappearance of Sodwana Bay charter skipper John Matambu, the man the police had set their sights on was apprehended.
News that Ferdie Visser was in police custody in Mozambique came through on Friday evening, as confirmed by Matambu’s nephew Mike Eilertsen, who had been working closely with all law enforcement units involved in an elaborate cross-border search.
The prime suspect is understood to have been apprehended at the small town of Macia in northwest Mozambique and it is believed the legalities and paperwork involved in extraditing Visser to South Africa will begin in the early part of this week.
Visser’s picture had been circulated widely among the media and concerned local groups, throughout KZN and into Mozambique, with numerous perceived sightings and thousands of tips coming through to investigators.
This after Matambu – the name affectionately bestowed on him by locals and by which he was widely known, rather than by his birth surname, Dercksen - had taken Visser to sea on charter boat ‘Magnum Too’ on 16 March.
Soon after, contact was lost and the search began when he failed to return to Sodwana.
The boat was found burnt-out and beached in Mozambique a day later.
One man was confirmed apprehended and questioned by police at nearby Mbazwana on Wednesday, until
Visser’s family, after being sent a photograph, determined it was not Visser.
According to Candice Eilertsen, who has been the Matambu family’s media link throughout this ordeal, Visser being in police custody was largely thanks to a holidaymaker named Victor, who spotted him in Mozambique.
“Victor then had his wife call me, and was instrumental in leading the authorities directly to Ferdie Visser,” said Candice.
“Remarkably, Victor refused to accept the reward, stating that good things are done for the good of society, and not for the money.
“Again, another example of the calibre of people caught up in the quest to bring John Matambu home.”
Candice went on to say Visser reportedly did not resist arrest and, although he has been questioned, has not admitted to anything.
She said the family remains hopeful that John Matambu will soon be found alive.