Sello Tsolo, a South African, has been held "hostage" by the United Arab Emirates for nine years. On Friday, his family and friends will petition the South African government and the UAE embassy in Pretoria to let him free.

The UAE claims it will not allow him to leave unless he pays back an R2 million "fraudulent" debt.

Sello Tsolo, who is in the SA Embassy in the UAE together with Tabelo Timse, a journalist who has covered the story previously spoke to Radio Islam International.