From friends of Shiraaz Mohamed Copyright: From friends of Shiraaz Mohamed Shiraaz Mohamed was seized a week ago Image caption: Shiraaz Mohamed was seized a week ago

Friends and family of kidnapped South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed are holding a vigil this evening in Johannesburg’s Lenasia township to pray for his safe return.

The freelance photographer was captured in north-western Syria, near the Turkish border, last week and there has been no word of his whereabouts.

“We are paralysed with worry and concern for Shiraaz,” his ex-wife Shirley Brijlal is quoted by South Africa's Mail and Guardian newspaper as saying.

Mr Mohamed was in Syria with aid organisation Gift of the Givers, which has arranged similar trips in the past.

Armed men took Mr Mohamed after stopping their convoy near the Al Hilal hospital.

In an email to fellow journalist and friend Dudu Mathebula a few days ago he wrote that he hoped to be back home in a few days:

“This is a personal project for me and I have plans to travel to Jordan, Morocco and Greece over the next eight months. I feel that it is the least that I can do for the Syrians.”

Ms Mathebula told the BBC that Shiraaz wanted to “tell the story of the Syrians” and was keen to document the life there amid the conflict.

These are some of the photographs he took while there:

Shiraaz Mohamed Copyright: Shiraaz Mohamed