By Megan Power
A 25-year-old Durban man was detained in the Philippines on Friday when airport officials found a screwdriver in his possession - and a forged visa.
Glenwood auto-electrician Robert Unsworth had his passport seized at Manila Airport and was ordered to pay a R1 200 fine.
On Saturday, the man's anxious father, Robert Unsworth senior, contacted the South African department of foreign affairs for help.
His son had e-mailed him on Friday saying he wouldn't be coming home as planned.
"He said it all started when a screwdriver was found in his luggage. Then he was questioned about his visits to Egypt, Israel, and Malaysia. And then they found his visa was not in order.
"I'm worried because I know he has no money to pay the fine; I paid for his ticket home and the airport taxes."
He said his son, who had travelled extensively in the past two years, had flown into the Philippines recently and left on a chartered yacht as crew before flying back into the country.
His visa had been organised by the yacht's owner.
Foreign affairs spokesperson Hanna de Beer said the South African mission in Malaysia was investigating.