Kidnapping drama ends in Roodepoort
The kidnapping drama surrounding 12-year-old Marcel Blandin de Chalain of Newcastle finally came to an end in Roodepoort today (21 May). A man, Johan de Beer, asked Marcel’s mother Adri on Sunday (18 May) to borrow her Ford Ranger bakkie to dump rubbish. The boy went with De Beer but when they did not return …
The kidnapping drama surrounding 12-year-old Marcel Blandin de Chalain of Newcastle finally came to an end in Roodepoort today (21 May).
A man, Johan de Beer, asked Marcel’s mother Adri on Sunday (18 May) to borrow her Ford Ranger bakkie to dump rubbish. The boy went with De Beer but when they did not return after two hours Blandin de Chalain realised something was wrong. She reported the matter and an intensive manhunt was launched that involved everyone from the police and public to the neighbourhood watch and security companies. Social media also were ablaze as people reported sightings.
The alleged kidnapper and Marcel were seen with hitchhikers in various places. They were spotted in Elandslaagte and again in Bloemfontein where they were caught on CCTV camera at a petrol station.
All the while Newcastle Advertiser (a sister paper of the Roodepoort record) journalist Kyle Cowan was in the thick of things, playing an integral part in coordinating the search. Cowan went as far as following the sightings as they were reported.
Marcel finally was found at the home of the kidnapper’s father Hans de Beer in Roodepoort . De Beer junior left Marcel there after seeing reports on social media and realising what trouble he found himself in and fled.
Marcel has indicated that he was taken against his will.
I think the roodepoort record should phone hans debeer and get the full story of the nigth his son left marcel in the complex his family stays.johan debeer lived with me in witpoortjie and worked for me until he stole a lot of my tools and ran away and told me if I ever told anyone he would come and kill me cold blooded
Johan de beer is an dangerous young man! The record should put up an full page story with an photo of johan or better known as johannes renier debeer, jr,or hans! I helped jr once but then he stole from my house and then assualted me!
I know the family of hans de beer, johan better known as jr once assauled his father in the complex they stay in last year june/july before his brother dewalt and son in law tinus came and helped hans de beer but later on the drama turned to the whole family blocking dewalt from killing his brother