A fateful night to be visiting Istanbul

TENSE TIME: The atmosphere outside the main Turkish airport a day after the attempted coup Picture: JUDY LELLIOT
TENSE TIME: The atmosphere outside the main Turkish airport a day after the attempted coup Picture: JUDY LELLIOT
National Heritage Council chief executive Sonwabile Mancotywa was in Istanbul when the army tried to topple the Turkish government last Friday.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, Mancotywa said soldiers had tried to take over major key points such as the national broadcaster and the airport in their bid to topple the government of sitting president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The shooting began at 7pm on Friday night and ended at 5am the next morning.

“As a South African I was not sure if I would make it out alive.

“The hotel I was in was trembling.”

Mancotywa, who is originally from Mthatha, said there was a lot of fear and uncertainty that night.

Read today's Daily Dispatch for more...

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