The South African government, which is the country hosting South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar,  has denied   media reports that  it has  placed him  under house arrest in Pretoria as false. The South African Government, according to the statement it issued on Thursday, said it issued a statement in October announcing the arrival of Machar to the country and purpose of arrival.

"Indeed, Dr Riek Machar is still in South Africa and the South African Government is taking care of him, given his profile",  the statement by  South African department of international relations and cooperation, reads in part.

It explained the leadership of the governing the country was in consultations with the Government of South Sudan and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries about the presence of Machar in the country. The South African government reiterated its commitment to the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan within the framework of the reunification of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) which has fragmented into three separate factions after 2013 political differences.

"South Africa wishes to reiterate her commitment to continue to work with the Government and the people of South Sudan in search of peace, stability and development",   the statement adds.

This role, it explained, is being played by the country “through her participation in the IGAD Plus mechanism, as well as the inter-party political dialogue which is facilitated by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Chama Cha Mapinduzi of the United Republic of Tanzania".

He dismissed media that the South Sudanese rebel leader was being held in Pretoria, stressing that he was free to move like any citizen. 

The SPLM-IO under Machar also issued statement denying he has been placed under house arrest, describing it as dangerous allegations after denial by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela.

“This malicious propaganda is part of a campaign by the regime in Juba. The horizons of whoever fabricated this story are obviously limited to Juba city limits, as they think that all countries operate like South Sudan, without due process of law. The arrest of the Chairman and C-in-C was just the wishful thinking of the regime in Juba and it would not solve the root causes of the conflict”, the statement obtained Radiotamazuj reads in part.