Wilderness man home after hostage ordeal

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - "You will not leave this country alive." These were the chilling words Hoekwil resident, Daniel Janse van Rensburg heard after he was acquitted of charges against him in Equatorial Guinea in October 2013.

This threat was made by an Equatorial Guinea businessman and ex senator, Abriel Mba Angabi on 18 December 2013 after an Equatorial Guinea judge had dismissed a case brought before him by Angabi.

The judge had given Janse van Rensburg permission to leave the country, but this was not going to happen for two long years. Instead he spent the next 23 months in one of the most notorious prisons in the world.

During this time, Van Rensburg's wife, Melanie and his mother, Martha fought tirelessly for his safe return from the tiny oil rich African country.

"I believe that no mother has ever fought so hard to get her son home," says Hennie, Daniel's father. Martha even phoned Angabi and begged him to send her son home. "All he kept repeating was 'I want my money, I want my money'," says Martha.

Daniel denies that he owes Angabi money. "I am willing to show the world the contract between us. It is a brokerage contract for a plane for Angabi."

When Daniel flew to EG in October 2013 it was to collect, by Angabi's request, the final amount payable to release the plane.

"When I got there he said that he first wanted the plane and would then pay. Obviously the contract stated clearly that he needed to pay the full amount before we would deliver.

"The moment I told him that, he got very angry and said that in that case he didn't want the plane and that I must pay back all the money that he had paid during the past 18 months."

Daniel says that the money had been used to get the plane ready and that it was Angabi who was in breach of contract.

"That is when he phoned the police and had me arrested."

Daniel spent three days in the Malebo Prison before appearing before the judge on charges of fraud and theft.

"Although I asked the SA Embassy for help, they couldn't get involved at the time as the case was a civil one."

The judge dismissed the case and issued a letter in December 2013 stating that Daniel was free to leave the country.

While boarding the plane home, he was grabbed by Angabi's men and thrown into Black Beach Prison, a real hell hole where he lost 30kg.

He slept on the floor in the passage, was dependent on fellow inmates for what little food their families could provide and often made do with condensation on the walls for drinking water. He also contracted malaria.

Two years later he was released and on 27 September he finally left the country.

Arriving home

"Getting off the plane in George was a surreal feeling. After spending so much time in that dank, humid, awful smelling place, I was just enjoying the fresh air of the Garden Route as I got off the plane.

Only when I heard the screaming coming from the door to the airport, I said to myself 'Those are my girls' and ran the rest of the way."

Not a dry eye was to be seen during the reunion. Hennie and Martha stood back sobbing with relief while Melanie and Abigail clung to Daniel. "I didn't realise just how much I love my boy," said Hennie.

Family and friends thronged in the arrivals hall waiting to hug Daniel.

When the family arrived at their house in Hoekwil, Daniel got out of the car alone to give his dog, Bubbles a chance to welcome him home. "I didn't know if he would recognise me."

"Bubbles would not leave my side for the past two years, and now he only has eyes for Daniel," says Melanie.

Abigail shot a video of the reunion and it's obvious that Bubbles was over the moon.

Back home, but what next?

"Right now I am looking for a good attorney who can help me take on Angabi. He needs to pay for what I have gone through! Having said that, I must stress once again that the South African Embassy in EG were extremely good to me. I have to single out the Vice-Consul from SA, Kgapotso John and Gift Masina. Those two people made all the difference," said Daniel.

The SA Ambassador to EG, Victor Rambau met him at OR Thambo airport on Sunday.

"He said that they were about to launch a full investigation into the matter. He also said that he would like me to accompany him back to EG for the investigation. I told him that I couldn't answer him. That answer will have to come from my wife," says Daniel looking at his wife.

But he has little chance of returning. Melanie, Hennie and Martha responded as one: "Are you mad! You are never going back there again."He has no immediate future plans. "I have spent two years not knowing if I was going to live or die so for now I am just going to enjoy my freedom. But I will have to get back to work soon. Life continues."

Melanie had made a sterling effort in raising money for Daniel's release. "That R70 000 and money from my family and friends have been paid towards legal fees to ensure my release. I have a great deal of thanking to do."-

He has worked as an aircraft broker for many years, but isn't sure if he will continue in that line of work.

Hendrik, Daniel's 24 year-old son, will be joining the family in two weeks time for some family time in a secret retreat.

"I think it is time for us to get re-united. The children have so much to tell their father. We just need some quiet time away," said Melanie.

Home at last. The Janse van Rensburg family visiting the Hoekwil Coffee shop where Melanie spent a great deal of her time during the two years that Daniel was held in Equatorial Guinea against his will. From left: Hennie, Martha, Abigail, Daniel, Melanie and Bubbles, Daniel's much-loved dog. Photo: Fran Kirsten

A second after the Janse van Rensburg family spots Daniel for the first time in two years. It was impossible for them to stand still. Both Abigail (daughter) and wife Melanie started to scream at the top of their lungs in excitement. Photo: Fran Kristen

Father and son, Daniel and Hennie Janse van Rensburg during their emotional reunion at the George Airport on Sunday, 27 September. Photo: Fran Kirsten

Click here to read previous articles: