Teens kidnapped from orphanage

THREE teenage boys from TLC (Love of Christ Ministries) in Bronkhorstfontein, Eikenhof, were taken from the children’s home late on Thursday evening, November 17 – whereafter they were beaten up and threatened with guns and knives before being rescued and brought home.

Thea Jarvis, owner of TLC, gave her permission for the CHRONICLE reporter to speak to the three boys – Paul, Jesse and Carlton – and they told their horror story.

“I went outside after 20:00 and saw a van which looked like an ambulance coming into our driveway. Our two guards looked to be getting into the van and as I went to see what was happening, a man came towards me and put a gun to my head and told me he’d kill me if I screamed,” Paul said.

“They tied me up and threw me in the van and put sticky tape over my mouth. I saw Jesse approaching the van and tried to warn him, but it was too late and they threw him in with me. I thought I was going to die!” Jesse said they put a gun down his throat.

According to Carlton, he saw the van driving towards the car port and he stood about 10 metres away watching. “A man got out of the van and said he needed me to sign a form. I thought it was suspicious; why would an ambulance man want me to sign a form? Then he pointed a gun at me, told me to be quiet and put me in the van.”

The men drove the van a short distance away, stopped and asked Carlton how they can get into the house. “I told them I have no keys and then they asked me for car keys. I gave them the same answer. They told me to get out of the van and made me sit down. Four of them began hitting me, screaming why did I lie? I had tape over my mouth and couldn’t talk, so they removed it. One man had a lit cigarette and he said if I didn’t talk, he’d put it out in my eye. He added that I’d die the slowest death. Then I was thrown back in the van.”

Jesse was taken out of the van, questioned and beaten – and Carlton was taken out again. “They told me to lie down and they all began kicking me.” The boys were questioned some more and accused of lying, then beaten again. “One of the men told the others to stop because I was making too much noise. We drove off again and the men were speaking an African language, but I made out Orange Farm. The next thing we heard shots being fired and the van came to a stop – and the men all jumped out and ran away into the dark. The police told us to get out of the van and we were brought home,” added Carlton.

Thea said men got into the house in the early hours of the morning last Friday – and tied up the girls from overseas working at the home, who were with the babies in the nursery. “They came into my room and at first I thought it was my boys. I couldn’t see well because it was dark. There were three men and they put a gun to my head, asking me for money. They had found R17 000 we had drawn the day before to pay for a water pump, in the safe in the office – but they kept saying I have another safe. I told them I didn’t.

“I was so frightened and worried for all the children, so I screamed as loud as I could and the girls sleeping in the room next to me, obviously heard and ran out and upstairs to where the boys sleep. There was a huge commotion made by all the children and the men ran off.”

While the CHRONICLE was interviewing Thea, Darren Simpson from 947 Breakfast Express phoned and Thea spoke to SOS ProTec Sure’s senior manager, Pieter Jacobs senior, who told Thea they will be installing a state of the art security system – and the home will be linked to armed response 24/7, at no cost. Jacobs said: “It’s a goodwill gesture to secure the safety of our community, but mainly our children.” SOS ProTec Sure also made a generous financial contribution to the home for Christmas. Thea was overjoyed to hear the news and thanked them from the bottom of her heart.

Shocked and traumatised, Thea and the three boys were going to the doctor to be checked out. Statements had already been taken by Mondeor SAPS earlier that morning.

“Thank you to everyone who has phoned, concerned about the boys and us at TLC. It’s been an absolute nightmare,” Thea added.

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