REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CAPE TOWN -- South African authorities on Saturday confirmed that a SA citizen has been killed during a attack by unknown militants in central Mali.

The SA embassy in Mali has confirmed that a 38-year-old man from Pretoria was shot dead by militants in a hostage situation at a Mali hotel, said Nelson Kgwete, spokesperson of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Militants attacked the hotel and held as many as 10 hostages on Friday. Seven people reportedly were killed in the attack.

"I'm unable to reveal the identity of the SA citizen who lost his life in the Mali incident. Family still coming to terms with the loss," Kgwete twitted.

But the South African press identified the victim as Roelof Janse van Rensburg.

Three South Africans were held hostage after gunmen attacked a hotel used by UN staff in the town of Sevare on Friday.

Two South Africans managed to escape unharmed, but the 38-year- old from Pretoria lost his life, said Kgwete.

The deceased SA national was attached to an aviation company rendering services to the UN contingent in Mali, according to Kgwete.

"Government sends its deepest condolences to the family of the SA national who lost his life in the attack in Mali. His family has been informed," Kgwete said.

He said the SA government will help victim's family with repatriating his remains.

At least 12 people, including five soldiers, two civilians and one UN staff, have been killed after unknown militants on Friday attacked a hotel in central Mali, Malian officials said Saturday.

Four hostages have been freed from the Byblos hotel used by UN staff, according to the Directorate of Information and Public Affairs of the Malian Army, adding that four militants were also killed in the raid.

Radhia Achour, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, confirmed that the released hostages were UN contractors -- two South Africans, one Russian and one Ukrainian.

Choguel Kokala Maiga, spokesperson of the Malian government, said the Malian troops are searching for surrounding buildings of the hotel in order to capture fleeing militants.

Maiga said the identities of the attackers have not been confirmed.

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