TheCable

The South African government has expressed concern over the involvement of its citizens in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.

Earlier in the week, Leon Lotz (pictured right), a private security contractor with South African military experience was killed alongside his Namibian manager and five Nigerian soldiers in Maiduguri, capital of Borno state.

Commenting on the development, Joy Peters, the country’s defence spokeswoman, said the South African government acknowledged the death of Lotz but hoped that it would serve as a deterrent to other of its citizens involved in the battle against the sect.

“We are disturbed by the death of this one person,” she told New York Post.

“Unfortunately, they went to Nigeria in their own personal capacity. We’d like to advise that this would serve as a warning to others who are considering engaging in such activities to really think twice and consider the repercussions.”

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the country’s defence minister, said it was unlawful for South Africans to fight overseas for private gain, saying the police would investigate anyone suspected to be involved in the battle.

But Mike Omeri, coordinator of the national information centre (NIC), denied that any South African was among the soldiers battling the insurgents in the northeast.

He said Nigeria only enlisted the support of some South African citizens to teach its soldiers how to use weapons acquired from their country.

“South Africans are training our people to use equipment purchased from them,” he told  Bloomberg.

“If you see those training, you may think they are mercenaries.”

Nigeria recently acquired helicopter gunships and tanks from South Africa and former Soviet Union countries.