The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Eldevina Materula, confirmed a few days ago that the government is investigating the case of extortion of South African tourists on the island of Mozambique.

"We received this complaint from a South African citizen with some concern. Immediately, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism interacted with the Ministry of the Interior to ascertain the veracity of the facts stated," said the minister.

 According to the official, if what has been reported by South African citizens is confirmed, the next step is to hold those who may have committed this type of crime properly accountable.

The act in question, allegedly carried out by coastal police officers in that part of the country, took place on October 22, when a group of five occupants of a yacht, including a national cook, were questioned and threatened by the police, allegedly because they had not been accredited to go to the scene.

Materula also said on the occasion that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, within the scope of its powers to promote national tourism, distances itself from any behavior that could tarnish Mozambique's image.