WATCH: It’s no honeymoon for ‘missing’ Hendrik

‘Betrayed’ probably best sums up how Mariana Williams of Sunwich Port feels after being jilted in the worst possible way by her fiancé, Hendrik van der Merwe.

Mariana met Hendrik (60) 18 months ago.

ALSO READ : UPDATE: Sunwich Port man found safe in Bethlehem

She says they had great chemistry and the relationship developed so well that they announced their engagement in December last year.

However, the fairy tale romance came to a crashing halt on July 1, when Hendrik disappeared without a trace.

On that Monday, Mariana and Hendrik had enjoyed prayer time, but when she later arrived home from work, there was no sign of Hendrik.

His car was missing, and he had left his cell phone in the house.

A missing persons report was opened at Southport police station and fearing the worst, a desperate and frantic search – involving police, family, friends, social media and the Pink Ladies – swung into action.

The darkest day for Mariana came on July 20, when police and a member of Hendrik’s family confirmed that the body of a man found murdered near Komatipoort was that of Hendrik.

She was faced with the devastating task of informing family and friends of Hendrik’s death and making funeral arrangements.

However, on Monday, July 22 Mariana was offered a lifeline – the body found near Komatipoort had been incorrectly identified as Hendrik and so the search continued.

An agonising 16 days later, Hendrik finally made contact with family to say he was fine, in good health and was returning home to Sunwich Port.

On Tuesday this week he and Mariana met for the first time since his disappearance.

The Herald was invited to witness the reunion.

Hendrik’s explanation

“Leaving Mariana and my South Coast family and friends was a choice I made.

“On the day I left, I felt a message had come to me, telling me to go.

“This was my biggest mistake. I didn’t have the guts to turn around and come back home sooner. I just drove and on the first night, I slept in my car at Harrismith.

“I did not go to family, nor did I make contact with anyone. I couldn’t deal with what I had done. I found a shelter at Bethlehem and stayed there.

“After three weeks, I told the people at the shelter what had happened and they urged me to go back home.

“I cried for days knowing that I had hurt and destroyed people who loved and cared for me.

“I hurt Mariana – what I did was extremely selfish.

“We had a very strong relationship and I know I now need to earn her trust and love again.

“I admit I was wrong and want to thank everyone who spent time and money searching for me. I hope and pray people can forgive me. I set off into the unknown and allowed the negative part of life to destroy me.

ALSO READ : UPDATE: Komatipoort murder victim is NOT Hendrik van der Merwe

“What happened was through no fault of Mariana’s. I wasn’t man enough and my plan now is to fight to get her back,” he said.

Mariana

“I am happy he is alive and well.

“It has been a stressful month, and the time of his disappearance was the time I need him the most.

“I went through hell and it’s only by the grace of God that I am alive and standing here.

“At the moment there is no way forward as I am still too hurt,”she said.

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