A South African businessman has scored a 1,3 billion naira (40 million rands) victory in court against the playboy vice-president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Nguema Obiang.

Daniel Janse van Rensburg has been embroiled in protracted litigation with Obiang over his detention in the central African country. Obiang, who has gained international notoriety for his taste for life's finer things, is the son of the president.

Janse van Rensburg was twice held in Equatorial Guinea’s notorious Black Beach prison despite being cleared of allegations of fraud and theft.

His ordeal, which entailed “torture, inhumane and degrading treatment”, spanned 549 days of detention, 423 of which were at Black Beach.

According to Janse van Rensburg, who is from Cape Town, he was arrested at the instance of Obiang’s uncle, Gabriel Mba Bela.

He sued Obiang, who “was at all relevant times the minister in charge of state security and prisons in Equatorial Guinea and was responsible for his unlawful arrest, imprisonment and torture”, after his return to SA in 2015.

Janse van Rensburg, who was involved in a business activities in several African countries, demanded N1,9 billion (R65 million) for the “multiple unlawful arrests, imprisonment and torture”.

In 2017, the high court in Cape Town ordered the attachment of Obiang’s South Africa properties, and on Friday it ordered the vice-president to pay Janse van Rensburg more than N1,3 billion (R40 million) in damages.

Pic 1 - Janse van Rensburg
Pics 2 + 3 - Teodorin Nguema Obiang

Awful Prison Conditions

Acting judge James Lekhuleni said: “Janse van Rensburg was tremendously affected by the prison conditions.

“He was incarcerated in a prison cell with about 400 prisoners who had to use two bathrooms, of which the toilets were constantly blocked and overflowing. As a result thereof, he frequently vomited in the bathroom.

“There was no running water or toilet paper. Inmates used their hands to clean their buttocks and wiped their hands on the walls. As a result, he got sick.

“The effects of torture were evident in court when he gave his testimony. He appeared to be tense, nervous, anxious, and he expressed himself with difficulty during his testimony.

“The after-effects of his arrest are still overwhelming him and it seems this will take a long time to normalise if it does not remain with him for the rest of his life.”

Lekhuleni said Janse van Rensburg might not be able to work again. “He indicated that he suffered from fatigue and dizziness brought on most often by frequent panic attacks.”

Obiang a Law Unto Himself

Lekhuleni was critical of Obiang’s conduct. “I must say with respect that this is an extraordinary case of unlawful arrest and detention,” he said.

“This is a case that epitomises a sheer abuse of power and authority by Obiang. Janse van Rensburg was fortunate to have survived this ordeal.

"Obiang defied orders issued by judges in his country who after listening to Janse van Rensburg’s case found that there was no basis for him to be arrested or detained. They released him.

“Though they released him and gave him permission to leave the country Obiang abused his power and rearrested him to demonstrate his total disregard of the rule of law.”

.after 400 years of slavery , white men still dey collect money from African , mtcheww ...

Africa my Africa.

This one playboy life style go pause small... That fine fit affect the economy of the nation

OlayemiAshraf:
.after 400 years of slavery , white men still dey collect money from African , mtcheww ...

If he was a good leader there'd be nothing for the white man to critique.

Deerock:
This one playboy life style go pause small... That fine fit affect the economy of the nation

You're right. It's an oil rich country though. But I can bet you he won't pay from his own pocket.

Wetin hin do sef...hin dey follow am drag girlfriend ni?!

The both two are fools

Deerock:
This one playboy life style go pause small... That fine fit affect the economy of the nation

Get an Economics tutor ASAP.

Look at how he is lavishing his country's funds and loads of the citizen are languishing in poverty.

lilachiever:
Look at how he is lavishing his country's funds and loads of the citizen are languishing in poverty.

Imagine what's gonna happen once he becomes President

OlayemiAshraf:
.after 400 years of slavery , white men still dey collect money from African , mtcheww ...

This short comment contains three reasons why africa isn't growing. First of all, corrupt mindset, you did not ask why the bastard did what he did but no because you both share the same skin colour you chose to overlook that, secondly, blame games and lastly, immense stupidity.

TMKsouth:


Imagine what's gonna happen once he becomes President

what has always been happening now. No be africa we dey, apart from SA the whole continent is in shambles, Kenya might become a paradise soon.

SegFault:

This short comment contains three reasons why africa isn't growing. First of all, corrupt mindset, you did not ask why the bastard did what he did but no because you both share the same skin colour you chose to overlook that, secondly, blame games and lastly, immense stupidity.

I wish I could click a thousand likes on this your comment

He even looks like who no get brain sef

Deerock:
This one playboy life style go pause small... That fine fit affect the economy of the nation

It will not remove shimgbai, Equitorial Guinea is a wealthy country but those wicked bitches called their leaders have diverted the funds into their personal bank accounts. Very corrupt country.

My brother if this one no introduce himself if I see am I go think say na one of Christ embassy Chris oyakhilome pastors be that

SegFault:

what has always been happening now. No be africa we dey, apart from SA the whole continent is in shambles, Kenya might become a paradise soon.

Why's there a power struggle between Kenyatta and Ruto? Same thing happened with Zuma and Mbeki. The wrong guy won and the country went down while it was flourishing at unprecedented levels during Mbeki's time (like with Kenyatta right now in Kenya).

Cholls:
My brother if this one no introduce himself if I see am I go think say na one of Christ embassy Chris oyakhilome pastors be that

Lol

SegFault:

This short comment contains three reasons why africa isn't growing. First of all, corrupt mindset, you did not ask why the bastard did what he did but no because you both share the same skin colour you chose to overlook that, secondly, blame games and lastly, immense stupidity.

If it was a black man that was in the position of that white man, did you think , they'll give him 1.3billion for compensation .... Mtchewww .. there's nothing like ""corrupt mindset , blame games , same skin colour or immense stupidity "" in what I wrote, ... If a black man sue a "white vice president " I'm sure they'll not give him a dime ...

40million hands is 1.2billion naira

This country is already at her lowest

Modified: it's hands not hands... This Grammarly dey ment o. It's rands not hands

Generalwoodz:
40million hands is 1.2billion naira

This country is already at her lowest

Modified: it's hands not hands... This Grammarly dey ment o. It's rands not hands

Lol, autocorrect is not on your side today. Messed u up twice.

TMKsouth:


Why's there a power struggle between Kenyatta and Ruto? Same thing happened with Zuma and Mbeki. The wrong guy won and the country went down while it was flourishing at unprecedented levels during Mbeki's time (like with Kenyatta right now in Kenya).

Nawa oh, this same Zuma and mbeki were part of the struggle against apartheid, what is wrong with human beings self.

Generalwoodz:
40million hands is 1.2billion naira

This country is already at her lowest

Modified: it's hands not hands... This Grammarly dey ment o. It's rands not hands

Omo better download new keyboard before this one go make you and person get problem.

SegFault:

Nawa oh, this same Zuma and mbeki were part of the struggle against apartheid, what is wrong with human beings self.

Part of the same struggle but different agendas once in power.

One grew up in exile and was educated in economics in Britain. The economy flourished under his rule. The other didn't finish primary school and was imprisoned for a decade or so. But although he spent more time among the people in SA and rose to power on a pro-poor ticket he decided to loot the country's coffers and leave the poor even poorer, while they sang his praises and blamed white-monopoly capital for their woes.

TMKsouth:


Part of the same struggle but different agendas once in power.

One grew up in exile and was educated in economics in Britain. The economy flourished under his rule. The other didn't finish primary school and was imprisoned for a decade or so. But although he spent more time among the people in SA and rose to power on a pro-poor ticket he decided to loot the country's coffers and leave the poor even poorer, while they sang his praises and blamed white-monopoly capital for their woes.

normal story we hear in this continent.