Western Cape man triumphant in court after Equatorial Guinea prison ordeal
Janse van Rensburg was imprisoned in Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea from September 2013 for 423 days
Hoekwil resident Daniel Janse van Rensburg (55) has finally put his nightmare ordeal in a notorious prison in Equatorial Guinea to bed.
This follows after he won his court case against Teodorin Nguema Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, Theodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Obiang was sued by Janse van Rensburg, who was detained in Equatorial Guinea for two years.
Teodorin Nguema Obiang was the second vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, 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.
Janse van Rensburg was imprisoned in Black Beach Prison in Equatorial Guinea from September 2013 for 423 days after an aircraft brokering deal with the president’s brother-in-law, Gabriel Mba Angabie, turned sour.
Black Beach Prison is described as one of the most dangerous and notorious jails in the world. It has a reputation for systematically neglecting and brutalising inmates. Medical treatment is usually denied to inmates and food rations are said to be meagre. While Janse van Rensburg was in prison he was forced to witness many atrocities including murder, brutal stabbings and rape.
All while his mother, Martha, wife Melanie, son Hendrik and daughter Abigail, waited anxiously for his release.
However, Janse van Rensburg and his family can finally put their ordeal behind them after receiving judgement from the Western Cape High Court yesterday, Friday 18 June.
Janse van Rensburg earlier successfully obtained an attachment order involving estates belonging to Obiang in Bishopscourt, Cape Town and a bungalow in Clifton. It formed part of Janse van Rensburg’s R75-million claim against Obiang.
On Friday the acting judge of the High Court, AJ Lekhuleni, granted judgement in favour of Janse van Rensburg. Among other things, he ordered that nearly R10 000 000 be paid to Janse van Rensburg in respect of general damages and another R10 000 000 paid in respect of past loss of income.
Furthermore, the sum of R20 000 000 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.
“We are relieved to finally have this nightmare behind us and to be able to carry on with our lives,” Janse van Rensburg said.” I’m thankful for the outcome. It is still hard to erase the memories of what I endured and it’s not about the money. It’s about justice. Someone had to stand up to him [Obiang].”
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