Jail ordeal over at last

28 September 2015 - 02:01 By Yolande Stander and Bobby Jordan

After two harrowing years in and out of an Equatorial Guinea prison, a South African businessman finally flew home to his relieved family on the Garden Route. Aviation consultant Daniel Janse van Rensburg, 49, had been held ransom for R1-million in the West African country after a business deal with a politician went sour."The nightmare is finally over," his wife Melanie Janse van Rensburg said yesterday after her husband landed in Johannesburg."We have missed so much over the past two years. Two Christmases, our daughter's 21st birthday, our son's graduation and our 25th wedding anniversary."Arriving at OR Tambo airport, Daniel told the media he was "fine" and thanked everyone before being whisked away by government officials.Melanie had his favourite sweet treat ready for his arrival."He loves Woolworths koeksisters so we got him that. We will also be doing a spread of his favourite food, real boerekos."She said her husband had spent his time in prison sleeping on the floor and had to buy food and water through the prison fence."I'm running on pure grace," Daniel said by telephone before he left for home."I am physically finished. This has been draining. It has been quite a lonely two years here, but I have made some good friends who even came to feed me [in jail]," he said."I had malaria four times, and typhoid. But at the moment I'm healthy."Several diplomatic efforts by South Africa for his release had been unsuccessful until last week.On Thursday the country's justice department confirmed he was free to leave the country.The family's nightmare started two years ago when Daniel was approached by Gabriel Bela Angabi, an Equatorial Guinea businessman, politician and son-in-law of the country's president, to assist him in setting up an airline.Daniel travelled to Malabo in September 2013 to ensure all documentation was in place. Shortly after his arrival he was arrested amid claims by Angabi that Daniel owed him R1-million - allegations he was cleared of by a local court...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.