"[Embassy officials are] in contact with the Malian authorities, working to safeguard South African interests, particularly its citizens, assets etc. until normalcy is restored," said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.

"South Africans living in or visiting Mali are advised to register on the ROSA [Registration of South Africans Abroad) system and be in contact with the embassy," he said.

Reports from Mali were that two gunmen had stormed the hotel earlier on Friday and took dozens of hostages. Some of the hostages had been killed.

By Friday evening, Malian media reported that all hostages had either been freed or had escaped, while two of the gunmen have been shot dead.

The South African government has strongly condemned the attacks.

"The South African government strongly condemns the use of force, violence, intimidation or threats to address socio-political issues or towards the resolution of political disagreements," Monyela said.

"South Africa stands firmly with the rest of the international community in its condemnation of attacks targeting innocent civilians and reiterates its stance that terrorism, in whatever form and from whichever quarter, cannot be condoned."

Monyela said the South African government was against any violence which undermined the Mali Peace and Reconciliation Agreement signed between the Malian Government and the Tuaregs rebel leaders in May and June 2015 respectively.

-News24.com