JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A South African who was held hostage for almost three years in Syria returned home on Thursday, his family confirmed on Friday.
Shiraaz Mohamed, a photojournalist from Johannesburg returned to South Africa after being assisted by the Turkish intelligence agency.
When approached for comment on Friday, International Relations and Cooperations Department said his family was handling media queries.
"We've been advised to refer all queries to his family, we're not commenting," said department's spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
Mohamed recently escaped from detention in Syria in December and fled to Turkey where the Turkish intelligence agency kept him until he returned to South Africa.
Shirley Brijlal, Mohamed's former wife told Xinhua that the family was overwhelmed.
"He's in South Africa's soil, yes we are elated. Prayers answered and overwhelmed," she said.
Mohamed was abducted in the northern parts of Syria in January 2017 after traveling to the war-torn country with the help of a South African NGO the Gift of the Givers.
He was kidnapped near the Turkish border while trying to cross to Turkey and return home after completing an assignment as a freelancer.
