Black Beach - About the book written by author & survivor, Daniel Janse van Rensburg and biographer, Tracey Pharoah
Published by Penguin Random House
491 Days in one of the Africa's worst prisons.
What was supposed to be a short business trip to Equatorial Guinea turned into a journey to the depths of hell.
A airline deal gone horribly wrong resulted in the illegal detention of South African Daniel Janse van Rensburg in Equatorial Guinea where he was imprisoned on false charges of fraud and theft for 549 days — 491 of which were at the notorious Black Beach prison from December 2013 to August 2015.
Read Daniel Janse van Rensburg's explosive true account of his time spent behind bars in Malabo, Bioko island on the west coast of Africa.
Black Beach, available as a printed softcover book, audio book and e-book and published by Penguin Random House South Africa in September 2022 is Daniel's remarkable story of surviving Black Beach, recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the most dangerous and notoriously brutal jails in the world. A place of immense suffering and overcrowding where men, women and children are housed together with little to no sanitation or access to clean water and food.
In the book, Daniel describes how events leading to his incarceration unfolded, his imprisonment at Black Beach prison where it was necessary to make friends with murderers and other shady characters in order to survive and how he was ultimately set free.
GET YOUR SIGNED COPY OF BLACK BEACH BOOK HERE
LATEST NEWS
BREAKING: 2023 07 01:Two South African Men appear in court facing drug related charges, Malabo, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
The two men, Peter Huxham and Frederic Potgieter currently being held on alleged drug trafficking charges in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea finally appeared in court and have been remanded in custody pending an appeal of their USD5million fine and twelve year sentence.
Read more here
RECENT: 2023 02 24:
Two South African Men detained at Black Beach, Malabo, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea
Read more here
Court Battle
In an ongoing court battle, Daniel Janse van Rensburg sued Teodorin Nguema Obiang, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea for damages in 2016 and in 2021 was awarded approximately US$2.2million in damages by the Western Cape High Court in South Africa which he is yet to receive as Obiang's lawyers have mounted numerous appeals which have been dismissed by the courts.
UPDATE: 2023 02 22: CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
The Superyacht, Blue Shadow, Has Been Officially Released By The Sheriff Of The Court In Cape Town
Read more here
Legal representatives acting on behalf of Daniel Janse van Rensburg have seized Blue Shadow, a luxurious multimillion dollar superyacht, belonging to the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Nguema Obiang at Cape Town harbour.
Read more here
What our Readers Say...
BLACK BEACH BOOK REVIEW
REVIEW
Daniel's experience will make you question your comfortable existence...
Question your inability to see past the mundane monotony of our daily life...
It will highlight the importance of not placing your emphasis on the insignificant
... he will remind you that we all have an innate ability to overcome against the odds.
And ultimately, he will show you the importance of reconnecting with your higher purpose.
This is Daniel's first book and is an incredible account of endurance, of faith and the struggle for survival.
His experience will teach you to look at your life, opportunities and the people around you through new eyes.
Tracey Pharoah
Biographer & Researcher
August 2022
Tracey Pharoah
Biographer & Researcher
REVIEW
Finished reading my signed copy yesterday. What an incredible (true) story captured in the book in a special and poignant way.
Well done to my father-in-law Daniel Janse van Rensburg and writer Tracey Pharoah . This is definitely something to be proud of!
Christoff - George
Reader
REVIEW
I just got this on my kindle and Wow!! A gripping read from page 1 - A book has to really grab me and this one did for sure!
For now, all weekend plans are shelved...
I’ll have my nose in the book!
I’m quite a discerning reader and downloaded the sample when I first heard about the book and was in it right away.
I don’t see it in Goodreads yet- not sure how one goes about adding it. I’ll definitely review it on Amazon.
Adele M - CANADA
Reader
REVIEW
I heard your interview on KFM and was waiting for your book. Received it this week and read it in two days.
What an unbelievable story!
Thank you for sharing it.
Your faith gives me hope.
PS I tell everyone that your book will be the ultimate Xmas gift that will change people in a special way!
Elzette
Elzette - Cape Town
Reader
REVIEW
To Daniel and Family - I purchased your book on Sunday and have just finished it and I wanted to tell you that I am in awe of your faith and your bravery that you showed for enduring Black Beach and the trauma and torment you have all been through. Black Beach has made me think differently and realise just how grateful we should all be for what we have and that we should not take small things for granted!
Wishing you and your family health and happiness. Your love and faith brought you through a harrowing time.
Sending Love - God Bless you -
Heather
Heather - Knysna
Reader
REVIEW
It was lovely to listen to your talk at our year end meeting and I have just finished reading your book. Wow! is all I can say.
You are such an inspiration and your story has really touched me. I’m so sorry for what you and your family went through. I also wish you all the best in your journey forward and the healing process
I would also like to say thank you! thank you for sharing your story with us and your unwavering faith.
All the best.
Niki from the Uk 🇬🇧
Niki UK
Readerrecent MEDIA
Two SA men appear in Malabo Court
Black Beach Hell - Carte Blanche TV on YOUtube
CAPE TALK - Lunch with Pippa Hudson
Lunch with Pippa Hudson.
Interview starts at 1.15 minutes into recording.
Catch up with Carte Blanche producer Annalise Lubbe for the back story on why two South African men have been arrested in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.Is it related to the ongoing case between Daniel Janse van Rensburg, a South African businessman who was illegally detained at Black Beach prison in Malabo and the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodorin Nguema Obiang?
Annalise unpacks the story - listen to her interview on Cape Talk
SABC Book Review with Daniel Janse van Rensburg
16 October, 2022
In his newly published book titled, BLACK BEACH: 491 Days In One Of Africa's Most Brutal Prisons, Daniel Janse Van Rensburg shares a thrilling story of being incarcerated at one of the world's most feared prisons. This read is Daniel's narration of how what was supposed to be a short business trip to Equatorial Guinea turned into what he describes as a journey to the depths of hell. Daniel Janse Van Rensburg joins us now on Zoom to dissect this offering.