Government condemns kidnapping of SA boy

The South African government on Sunday condemned the kidnapping of a 12-year-old boy in Malaysia, the department of international relations and co-operation said.

"[The government] calls on the government of Malaysia to continue with its efforts to secure the release of Nayati Moodliar and to bring the perpetrators to book," spokesman Clayson Monyela said.

In a statement he said the department also called on the public to support the Moodliar family until they were reunited with their son.

He was kidnapped on Friday morning in the capital city Kuala Lumpur while on his way to school. Monyela said the South African government was in contact with the family, both in Malaysia and South Africa.

"The South African high commissioner in Malaysia has visited the family to express government's support to them. The high commission is in daily contact with the relevant authorities."

Moodliar's father Shamelin Moodliar said in a video broadcast on YouTube: "He is our only son. He is a good boy and we need him back. We don't want any trouble... It's not too late to let him go... We're not rich people, please give our son back."

Shamelin told a television station they had no idea whether he was taken for a ransom. The parents have dual South African and Dutch citizenship. The boy's grandparents live in Cape Town.

"We are in contact with them... It is hard on all of us," the boy's aunt, Caroline Swanepoel, told the Saturday Star.