Kidnap boy back home

Twelve-year-old Marcel Blandin de Chalain did not know he was being held captive.

His father, Ricardo, yesterday said his son was repeatedly told that he was "on his way home".

"He told us that Johannes [De Beer, the suspect] drove straight out of Newcastle to Ladysmith. He told Marcel that they couldn't go back because they didn't have enough petrol.

"He then continued driving and said he took a wrong turn. He kept telling Marcel that he was lost and kept on driving. Marcel was scared," he said.

He was reunited with his parents yesterday , three days after he disappeared from Newcastle.

Marcel's mother, Adriana Blandin de Chalain, took in Johannes Reiner de Beer, 23, for a few days after seeing him outside her neighbour's home on Thursday last week.

"He looked decent. He said he was a hiker and I thought we could help him with shelter for a few days."

On Sunday, De Beer had offered to dump the household's refuse at the municipal dump but did not return with the couple's bakkie and son. The search led the police to Ladysmith, where a local said De Beer had begged for petrol.

A couple given a lift by De Beer told the police that they had last seen him and Marcel at the Mimosa Mall, in Bloemfontein, at 5pm on Tuesday.

A few hours later, De Beer showed up at his father's house in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. After being told by his father that he was being sought by the police for kidnapping he fled.

Investigating officer Captain Flip Claassen reunited Marcel with his parents.

"Marcel is very quiet. He seems scared that someone will take him," his mother said.