The release of four South Africans jailed by Equatorial Guinea for a failed coup was linked to President Jacob Zuma's visit to the oil-rich state, the South African leader's office said on Wednesday.

Zuma made a one-day working mission to Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday which coincided with the West African state's pardon on Tuesday of the four who had been jailed for 34 years alongside British mercenary Simon Mann.

"The government of Equatorial Guinea has indicated that this was a gesture of goodwill related to the visit," the South African presidency said in a statement.

The British and South African mercenary leaders were jailed for their role in a 2004 plot to oust President Teodoro Obiang Nguema as head of the former Spanish colony.

"We were told that Zuma and his government were involved in the negotiations for our release and today we are free," Nick Du Toit was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper on Wednesday.

Du Toit, with Sergio Cardoso, Jose Sundays and George Alerson, and with British citizen Simon Mann, were granted presidential pardons on humanitarian grounds on Tuesday. The South Africans were released into the custody of the country's embassy in Malabo.

The South African embassy said on Wednesday it was making travel arrangements for four South Africans released from prison to return home, the Sapa news agency reported.

"They are safe and sound with us at the embassy," said head of the mission in Malabo, Lungile Mkuyana.

"We are arranging something for them," he said.

Zuma held talks with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on Wednesday aimed at bolstering ties with the oil-rich state.

"Though we find ourselves in the midst of a global economic recession, there remains great opportunity for economic growth and development on the African continent," said Zuma.

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AFP

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