Coming home after two years of hell

GEORGE NEWS - Local resident Daniel Janse van Rensburg's ordeal in Equatorial Guinea (EG) for the past two years is nearly over.

"I can't wait to feel his arms around me, knowing that both he and I are finally safe from the nightmare," said his wife, Melanie.

Daniel was first imprisoned in Black Beach Prison, one of the most notorious prisons in the world, after an aircraft deal between him and the EG president's brother-in-law, Gabriel Mba Angabie, turned sour. Since his first arrest (September 2013), Daniel has been released twice, just to be rearrested at the last moment before flying back to South Africa.

After Daniel was first arrested, the EG court of law found him not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Despite this court ruling, Angabie had refused to release Daniel unless a R1-million ransom was paid directly to him.

"We had to take a leap of faith and allow an international mediator to negotiate his release," said Melanie. She added, "We have only now found out that the theft charges laid by Angabie against Daniel were bogus. There is no evidence of these charges actually ever having been laid."

Although the Janse van Rensburg family is ecstatic about Daniel's imminent return, they understandably remain cautious.

"He has been so close to coming home in the past, just to be rearrested and returned to that hell hole [Black Beach Prison]. Daniel assures me that the moment his name has been removed from the EG's airport list of people prohibited from leaving the country, he will be on his way home. I promise you that the George Herald will be the first media house I will call with the great news," said Melanie.

While she is cautiously optimistic, Melanie takes comfort from the Skype calls both she and Daniel enjoy every evening.

"It is wonderful to hear his voice. We have so much to catch up on, so many special moments that I need to share with him. He missed our son's graduation and our daughter's 21st birthday. I just can't wait for him to be home, and life to start returning to normal."

According to Melanie, their two children, Hendrik (24) and Abigail (22), are excited that their father will soon be home. "They have both suffered without their father over the past two years.

"Hendrik was suddenly thrown into the role of head of the house. Abigail, who is very close to her father, has suffered emotionally. All we can do is believe that he will be on a plane heading for South Africa soon."

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