Gerco van Deventer speaks about his six-year kidnap ordeal
In 2017 van Deventer was seized in Libya, sold to militant Islamists in Mali and released after 6 years at the end of 2023.
Gerco van Deventer (L) and his wife Shereen. Picture: Shereen van Deventer/Facebook
Lester Kiewit speaks to Gerco van Deventer.
Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.
The man described as the longest-held South African hostage by local NGO Gift of the Givers has spoken out about his six-year kidnap ordeal.
Last month, the charity revealed it had facilitated the "unconditional" release of Gerco van Deventer.
He had been kidnapped on 3 November 2017 while working in Libya.
Van Deventer says he was initially 'overwhelmed' by the prospect of returning home.
"Being a free man, having my freedom given back to me, it was overwhelming, but it's getting there, settling back in nicely."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African Hostage
Van Deventer was working as a paramedic for a security firm when he was kidnapped having just arrived in Libya.
He describes having been collected from the airport and heading to a construction site south of Tripoli when 'all hell broke loose'.
'I heard the bullets on the car...within seconds, there's people at the door trying to break in trying to pull me out of the car.
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African Hostage
"Two guys pointed their AKs at my head, I knew, OK, you can resist as much as you want, but they're going to take you, by force."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African Hostage
Van Deventer describes how during his first month held captive, his abductors slept on either side of him to ensure he didn't try to escape.
"It was horrific," he says.
A year after his abduction, van Deventer was sold to militant Islamists in Mali.
He admits that he felt sure his life was spared only because he was viewed as 'currency' by his kidnappers.
"They do this to gain money. I was initially kidnapped by a mafia...obviously they want money for you."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African hostage
For five years van Deventer was held by al-Qaeda affiliate, Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin who initially demanded $3 million for his release.
"I decided I wanted to live. I wanted my captivity to be as comfortable as possible, so you do what needs to be done to make that happen for you."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African hostage
"They see you as a non-believer...they tried to convert me, there were numerous attempts."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African hostage
"From the beginning to the end, my faith was strong."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African hostage
Van Deventer says he thought many times about escaping, but says his captors had the upper hand.
"They know the desert so well, it's like their backyard."
- Gerco van Deventer, Freed South African hostage