JOHANNESBURG - The SA man saved by European Union  naval forces after his yacht was attacked by pirates off the coast  of Somalia, has arrived in South Africa, the international  relations department said on Wednesday.

“Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane announces that the  South African national who was rescued by EU naval forces  from a yacht off the coast of Somalia over the past weekend  following an attack by pirates has safely arrived in South  Africa and was received by support staff of government,”  spokesman Saul Kgomotso Molobi said in a statement.

“Sustained efforts to attain the release of two other South  African nationals being held by as yet unidentified parties in  Somalia are continuing,” he added.

Beeld newspaper on Wednesday named the man as Peter  Eldridge, an engineer from Richard’s Bay. He reportedly  refused to get off the yacht, which he built himself, when  pirates attacked.

But two other people, who were on the yacht with him,  identified by Beeld as Bruno Pelizzari and his partner Debbie,  were taken hostage.

The SA High Commissioner to Kenya, Ndumiso Ntshinga,  told the SABC on Tuesday the couple was abducted on  Sunday.

“We have no information on the two, except that the last time  they were seen was when they were taken off the yacht,” said  Ntshinga.

“We are still trying to find out where they are but we are also  hoping that at some point the kidnappers would make  contact... and maybe demand a ransom and all that, but  we have not heard from them yet.”