Update

GEORGE NEWS - "Prison is a second-by-second assault on the soul, an oppressive system that turns your seconds of suffering into hours. You must escape or you die or you go crazy. If you survive this... you will surely no longer be the same."

These gut-wrenching words uttered by Hoekwil resident and former Black Beach prisoner, Daniel Janse van Rensburg, are from an interview with his biographer, Tracey Pharoah.

The book, Black Beach - In the valley of the shadow of death, captures Janse van Rensburg's horrifying 495 days spent in one of the world's most dangerous and notorious prisons.

Janse van Rensburg (55) won his five-year-long court battle against Teodorin Nguema Obiang, the playboy son of Equatorial Guinea's president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, last Friday, 18 June.

Janse van Rensburg, who was awarded nearly R40-million in damages, was imprisoned in Black Beach Prison, in Equatorial Guinea in September 2013 after an aircraft brokering deal with the president's brother-in-law, Gabriel Mba Angabie, turned sour.

Black Beach prison has a reputation for systematically neglecting and brutalising inmates. Medical treatment is routinely denied to inmates and food rations are meagre. While Janse van Rensburg was in prison, he was assaulted by fellow inmates and forced to witness many atrocities, including murder, stabbings and rape. On his eventual return home to his family in September 2015, Janse van Rensburg sued Obiang, claiming the amount of R75-million for his wrongful detention in Equatorial Guinea.

Obiang was the second vice-president of the country, in charge of defence and security during Van Rensburg's illegal detention. He was also the political head in charge of the armed forces, police and prisons.

Claimed funds

Acting High Court Judge, AJ Lekhuleni, ordered that R9,882-million be paid to Janse van Rensburg in respect of general damages and another R10-million for past loss of income. In addition, the sum of R20-million is to be paid in respect of future loss of earnings as Janse van Rensburg has been declared unfit to work. 

Obiang is also responsible for certain legal costs. Janse van Rensburg earlier successfully obtained an attachment order involving estates belonging to Obiang in Bishopscourt, Cape Town valued at R35-million, and a bungalow in Clifton valued at R25-million. 

These properties will be auctioned in order for Janse van Rensburg to receive his payout totalling nearly R40-million.

The Janse van Rensburg family prior to Daniel's imprisonment in 2013. From left are wife Melanie, Daniel with his dog Bubbles, son Hendrik and daughter Abigail.
 Photo: Facebook

The future

"We are relieved to finally put this nightmare behind us and to carry on with our lives," Janse van Rensburg said. "I'm thankful for the outcome but it is still hard to erase the memories of what I had endured."

He has recently been working on the above-mentioned manuscript about his experience. For the future, he intends to focus on delivering his testimony and motivational speeches.

Janse van Rensburg says he hopes the damages he won for wrongful imprisonment will send a strong message to other leaders who abuse their power. "This is not justice, because we can't really get justice. But it is a kind of closure. Someone had to stand up to Obiang," he said.

The Janse van Rensburgs wish to thank all their friends, family and the community for their support and prayers. "We are extremely grateful to all of them."

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