Growing concern about Hammerl

South African photographer Anton Hammerl has not been visited by an "intermediary" like his American counterparts who were captured by Libyan authorities 37 days ago.

And his traumatised wife, Penny Sukhraj, is asking: "Why is he being treated differently?"

The Global Post reported on Tuesday that their journalist, James Foley, and American freelancer Clare Gillis - who were captured with Hammerl on April 5 - were "allowed a visitor".

But this has been little comfort to Hammerl's family who are "terribly distressed around the growing uncertainty of things".

Sukhraj said: "It is with great concern that 37 days have passed with us having absolutely no contact with Anton."

Sukhraj again called for more intervention from the South African government asking it to "plead with the Libyans to please give us access to Anton".

Spokesman for the US embassy in Pretoria, Elizabeth Trudeaux, said: "We continue to actively seek information on Hammerl's whereabouts, his wellbeing and safety, and we continue to push for his immediate return to his family."