Two Algerians sentenced to prison in South Africa

A court in Cape Town in South Africa sentenced two Algerian people to two years in prison for theft and attack, Director of Tourism National Office said on Thursday.

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• “The two fans went to South Africa individually and illegally. They did not contact any Algerian tourism agencies in charge of transporting fans,” Rabah Kacemi said.
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• “All the fans were arrested in South Africa and they were released after the representatives of Algeria’s embassy had intervened,” he added.
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• “The last three fans were detained because of some disputes. I personally went to prison and they were deported to Algeria.”
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• He also said all the fans who were transported by the Algerian tourism agencies came back to the country safe and sound. “The fans who are still in South Africa had gone there individually.”
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• The representatives of Algeria’s embassy in South Africa refused to make any comment about the issue. Chargé d’affaires at the embassy said there were difficulties in transporting the fans but the embassy’s staff accompanied them in all their trips and helped fans who lost their documents, passports and money.
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• “The comprehensive evaluation process of dealing with the Algerian fans in South Africa is still underway,” he added.
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• The Tourism National Office’s director said he submitted his final report about the transport process to the Algerian youth, sports, tourism, interior and transport ministries. They are expected to make a comprehensive and final evaluation of the process in the next few days in the presence of all the partners.