The South African Transportation authorities, have confirmed the rescue of 12 persons from a Nigerian tug boat that sunk in the South African territory late Saturday night.
The South African Ministry of Transportation, said that one person has been confirmed dead, while five are missing.
The Minister of State, Foreign Affair, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this yesterday morning.
The Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Magnus Eze, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the tug boat named LEO, with 18 persons on board, came to South Africa for repairs, but ran aground at 18 nautical miles offshore under stormy waters between Cape Town and Durban on its way back to Lagos.
According to the minister, the search efforts are ongoing.
“The South Africa Ministry of Transportation informed us of this development.
“The South Africa Maritime Safety Authority has also informed that survivors are presently being conveyed to Port Elizabeth, where officials from the Nigeria High Commission are on their way to receive them,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
