Shoot to Kill in Mozambique

NIGHTMARE EXPERIENCE IN MOZAMBIQUE (SHOOT TO KILL)

On the 20th of Des 2016 I received an instruction from my project manager that I have to go to Beira to collect short

supply material that was not suplied by one of our suppliers in S.A. We agreed that my fiance and I will leave Nampula

at midnight on the 20th.The project manager asked me if I would be able to use my own vehicle,which is a Ford Bantam

bakkie.Reg number BP 96 FC GP. to assist to load some of the material and he will cover my cost and all my expenses

where upon I agreed to his request. My fiance and I departed from Nampula on the 21st early the morning 00h21am.

There was a second vehicle also used to help transport some of the material a double cab Toyota Reg number DY 79 YD GP

with 5 members in the vehicle (company vehicle) the employees that were in this vehicle was Mr Rock Domingos his wife

and their 11 month baby boy.

The other person was Fatima Valunculo, the household cleaner and her baby girl of 1 jear.The reason why the woman and

kids were with in the vehicle was that they were on leave for Chritmas and I Mr Brits granted them permission to travel

with us to save them transport money because they were going the same direction to Beira.

The woman would only return in the new year Jan 2017 we left on the morning at 00h21am on the 21st Des 2016 from Nampula.

The vehicle was following me. We were driving together from Nampula heading towards Caia we met the convoy on the way at

the Inhaminga turn off the convoy police stopped us and asked us where we were heading to, I informed the police and army

of the convoy that we were going to use the Inhaminga road to Beira where upon they agreed and told me to go ahead and

that the road was safe to use, but I must not use the road via Caia to Inhamphasa because thats a dangerous road. Then we

departed and took the road to Inhaminga.The first two kilometers were uneven with potholes and is a very dusty road. I

showed the back driver Mr Rock to slack down and stay a distance away from me because of all the dust and potholes we could

easily have made an accident. So I was increasing my speed to keep a safe distance between us (to be on the safe side)I

was traveling at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour we reached a long straight piece of road and as I entered that stretch

I got a strange feeling but tried to ignore the feeling and kept it to myself.It was about 5 kilometers from Inhaminga

turn off on the long stretch when suddenly the road was very uneven in the middel with sand banks and I decided to drive

more to the right for the gravel not to touch my vehicle from underneath, while I was aiming to the right my eyes caught

sight of movement in the bushes.

Then the next moment I discovered 5 soldiers with dark green and black military uniforms, on my right side in the bushes

with AK47 machine guns my first thoughts was that some one was chasing them (perhaps the convoy police that was on the

other road)I then reconized that this was not the army neither the police.I kept my speed stable at 110 kilometers.

But the next moment one soldier appeared right next to me by the right hand fender of my vehicle, there was no indications

or warning us or trying to pull us over he hit my vehicle on the right hand side with his automatic AK47 machine gun.

The moment he did that shots were coming from the right hand side one after the other(rapid fire)one of the bullets hit

me and I knew we were in big trouble. The bullet that hit me entered in my bum on the right hand side.I immediatley

felt numbness in my right leg and felt a tremendous burning pain in my bum. I could feel how the bullet hit me on my

hip bone.It was severe pain that I have never felt before in my life. I then changed my feet on the pedal and stayed calm

but I increased my speed.I then told my fiance that a bullet has hit me and I told her that she must 'duck down'

My right hand window was open at the time her left hand window was halfway open while she was ducking down a second bullet

hit me in the forearm that was holding on the steering wheel.(my right arm)I then changed hands on the steering wheel.

I knew my arm bones were totally off.

I was now driving the vehicle with my left foot and left arm.I increased my speed to 160 kilometers just to get away

because I knew if I stopped they would kill us.I could feel that my vehicle was starting to drift of the high speed and

the bumpy gravel road. But I stayed calm and controlled my vehicle, when I looked in my rear mirror I could see five

'Renamo soldiers'aiming their machine guns at us ready to shoot us.I then swifted from right to left to make it difficult

for them.

My company vehicle that was following me appeared on the straight stretch gravel road and the soldiers discovered

that I was not alone and they turned towards them, that gave me time to get away.While I was driving and getting away,

my fiance tried to close the hole on my arm that was squirting blood all over she put her thumb on the hole and then

took the pillow case off to try and stop the blood but the blood was pouring out in huge quantities. Blood was now all

over me on her and all over inside the vehicle, she was in a panic stage and crying. Then I asked her to take my cell phone

and call my project manager for help.She was in such a state and shocked that she could not manage to do so.Her hands

were wet and full of blood.I asked her to put the phone by my left hand so that I could try and phone. I managed to dial

with my left hand while also trying to hold the steering wheel and asked her to hold the phone next to my ear.

To my horror I realized that we were in a area with no signal at that time.After a while I tried again and by Gods grace

I got through to my manager.I told him to please get some assistance as I was shot and seriously wounded and needed

medical attention immediately and I was loosing a lot of blood.I told him to arrange for the police to give us assistance

along the road.I also informed my manager that the vehicle behind us was taken hostage or that we did not know what

happened to them as yet.I continued driving at a high speed and was stopped by policemen about 20 kilometers from

Inhaminga.I briefly informed them what happened and that they must please send someone out to go and look for the

other vehicle.I told them it was a double cab Toyota.They then in struckted us to go ahead and that there is a

red cross hospital in Inhaminga about 10 kilometers from where we met the policemen.I discovered that the road had a

big hole and was covered with lots of loose sand.I had to reduce my speed tremendously and asked my fiance to put the

vehicle in second gear.She could not manage because she was panicing and in shock. So I removed my foot from the

petrol pedal and pushed in the clutch with my left foot and I supported the steering wheel with my left leg to

change the gears with my left hand but it was too late and we got stuck in the sand.So we both got out of the vehicle

and saw that there were some houses on the left of the road. We tried to get the peoples attention and shouted for help.

They then came running to help with spades to assist us. Some were men some woman and even children.They all pushed

and my fiance was also pushing the vehicle at this stage. We then managed to get out of the sand. Once the vehicle was out

of the sand I told my fiance to get back into the vehicle We thanked everybody who assisted in helping us,they just waved

and we drove off at high speed.I saw a sign next to the road that stated Inhaminga 8 kilometers. The reason I was chasing

with high speed is that I was afraid that the Renamo soldiers would take the company vehicle and chase after us.

We arrived at 11:45am at the Red cross hospital The incedent took place at 11:30am, arriving at the hospital the

police and staff were already waiting for me ready to assist me. I lost alot of blood,

they brought a stretcher out to carry me into the hospital.But They then put me on a small

bed and started putting stitches without any pain killers or annestetics in my arm. They did nothing to my bum wound,

or try and stop it from bleeding, I was lying there in much pain. The police commander Mr.Franklin asked me if I'm

willing to make a statement at the time. I then asked him that they must please go look to see if they can find my

people that was taken hostage by Renamo soldiers and he said that they have sent some of his people to go search for them.

Then I told him I will give him the statement and he wrote it down. My employer confirmed that they were busy looking

for a helicopter to pick me up from Inhaminga hospital to be lifted to Beira hospital.They then called me back again,

saying that their are no helicopters available in the Beira area as they were in for services in Maputo and the quickest

that they can assist us with a helicopter was on the 22nd the following day.They mentioned that there was an ambulance

on it's way from Beira and that it would be there shortly and that they can take me by ambulance to Beira.

We were waiting for the ambulance which seemed like took forever to arrive.The people that were in the second vehicle

arrived at the hospital at 18:00pm they were all in a shocked state upon their arrival.The police commander Mr. Franklin

said they are going to take my vehicle for investigation.I then instruckted Mr.Rock Domingo to remove all my personal

belongings and company documents from my vehicle and to put it in the company vehicle.

Then Mr Franklin instruckted his police officer's to take my vehicle to their bases.I handed my keys to him because

they had to move the vehicles shortly. Soon after that Mr Rock and the other members visited me in the hospital room

and discussed briefly what happened to them, but they were all still very shocked and in a state.The woman were crying.

They told me they took their money,cell phones, clothing bags even the babys bottles and there nappies and their shoes

as well.They did that with force and with gun point.They had nothing with them to support the kids or them selfs.I asked

my fiance to give them each a 1000 meticas to help them with what they needed at the time. Mr. Franklin asked them if they

were ready to go to the police station to give there statements of the incedent.Mr Rock asked if he could use the company

vehicle to go and buy some things they needed and what they needed for the babys as well.I agreed that he could use the

vehicle.My fiance was waiting with me for the ambulance,trying to comfort me all the time. I was in a lot of severe

pain and lost a lot of blood. The hospital did not have any pain medication or anything to assist me with. The agony I was

going through did not stop the pain and sore I was having and the blood was bleeding freely from my bum wound.They had no

pain injections or any thing to assist me with what I was going through.It felt if the ambulance was never going to arrive.

it only arrived at 23:00pm that evening on the 21st Des.We then got into the ambulance.I got on to a small uncomfortable

bed at the back.What a terrible drive two policemen were traveling with us.My fiance sat on a small chair and was trying

to hold me still as I was rocking from side to side on the small bed and the rough uneven gravel road.The road was rough

and it had rained it was terrible. We had to travel a distance of 180 kilometers to reach Beira. At one stage we got stuck

and the driver of the company vehicle got out and they switched drivers. This driver was speeding and almost driving

wrecklessley and the pain I was going through was unbearable. I felt every bump and my arm was only wrapped (if you can

call it wrapped)with a peace of cardboard box to try and hold it in some position.I knew my arm was off because it kept on

cracking with every uneven pothole we went through.I was now aching all over.We eventually reached Beira hospital the

following morning at 5:00am (what a nightmare it was riding right through the night)with all the pain and suffering.

Arrangements were made prior to our arrival,by one of the stake holders in Beira.When we arrived at the hospital they

took me immediately for exrays for my arm and bum.They first could not see the bullet that was in my bum.But Dr.Ri

asked to see the exray's again held them up in the light and saw that the bullet was indeed in the bum.

The bullet had turned around and hit against my hipbone and went down towards my arnus and got stuck just by luck it

did not go further.Then Dr Ri asked me if I want to let them remove the bullet from my bum or do I want to wait till

I arrive in S.A. I decided to let Dr Ri remove the bullet as he was the one who saw it and said he must remove it as

soon as possible. As I knew if I left it, it would mean more complications for myself.They spoke nothing about my arm

but the exray's showed that my arm was broken completley off at three places.Then they took me to theater and

I thought that I was going to sleep or at leased get anesthetic now. But to my surprise,they told me to sit forward

and touch my toes the next moment I felt needles entering near my spine in my lower back but not only one they injected me five times

and slowly I felt parts of my legs and feet were going numb.(They gave me an epidural) but as they were cutting by my bum

I could feel the knife as it entered near the hole of the bullet.They only gave me a drip which contained water to keep

my vains open nothing was done to my arm. Back in the ward they informed me that the stake holder of the company would

arrange for me to go to the private clinic which is next to the hospital.I was carried on a stretcher to the clinic

whitch was up with a high staircase and struggled to keep me on the stretcher.They then put me in a private room with

only a drip to my side.I received for the very first time an antibiotic injection, pain tablets and tablets to generate

blood and some iron tablets as well. I never received any blood no blood at all not in Mozambique and also in S.A.

My arm was only "stretched" the next morning,the 23rd by two Drs Dr Ri and his assistant by holding and pulling

my arm.It felt like they were pulling my muscles apart and then they put my arm in a sort of a cast with bandages

a little bit comfortable and abit more stable than the cardboard box I had wrapped around my arm.

We had made arrangements prior to the incident to stay in a geusthouse in Beira for two nights.The booking was

done by one of my fellow employees Mr. Ali Consolo. I decided that my fiance must get some rest at the geausthouse

for the two nights because she was very exhausted. Then I discussed with the clinic if it would be possible for

my fiance to come stay with me at the clinic as she could assist them with tending to my needs in the clinic.

They agreed to it. I was in the clinic from the 22nd Des till the 27th of Des 2016.They had to get me stable for

the flight to S.A.The flight was arranged by my management on short notice,with S.A. Air Link on the 27th on the

13:30 flight from Beira to S.A. JHB O.R.T. We arrived at O.R.T 15:20 on the 27th Des 2016.My brother was waiting

for us at the air port.

With the departure from Beira, in the air craft my right side of my body went into a total spasm with the taking

off in the air.It was unbearable and tremendous sore, I felt all my muscles pulling together. I asked my fiance

if she would mind to go sit at a open seat that I could have some space to stretch my legs and I now felt pain all

over my whole body.I could not understand what was happening.I was hurting all over. As my brother took us from the

airport I was lying on the back seat of his car in much pain and agony. He took us to my fiances house whitch is

in Roodepoort.When we got there I asked her to assist me to the bathroom, to bath me and then discovered that my

whole bum, hind leg and the right side of my body was purple blue of the fact that my body went in a spasm.It

was the swelling and the blood under my skin. It looked awefull and very sore. We then went to Wilgeheuwel hospital

so that they could atend to me on our arrival at the hospital we were told that they could not attend to me

or help us because the Dr's which could help were still on Christmas holiday's.They advised us to go to Fourways

Life hospital in Fourways.That was in the evening of 27th about 19:00pm we then decided to go there the next

morning.The 28th of Des 2016 we got to the hospital early and a Dr. checked me thorally and told me that I must be

admitted immediatley. They placed me in a ward, gave a drip and also a injection for pain.

They told me they were going to opperate my arm as soon as possible. They opperated me that same evening of

the 28th The Dr. was very satisfied with the opperation he had done on my arm.He informed me that he put two

steel plates in my arm as my arm was completley broken in three places.(right off) The plates are now there

for life my bum wound was attended to and they cleaned it properley everday they had a plastic Surgeon, a Neurologist

and also a other surgeon looking after me regulary my bum wound was cleaned daily and was making some progress.

But the pain was still unbearable every time they cleaned it.I was in Fourways Life hospital from the 28th up

untill the 30th of Des 2016.We cleaned my wound at home after I was discharged.

I was admitted again on the 4th and 5th of Jan 2017.They then connected me to a machine that was draining

my bum wound which drains all the fluids and toxins out of the bum wound.I was discharged and now I am on a regular

four day interval to see that the wound is cleaned and the tissue and cells were growing back as it should.

I went for a cat scan on the 4th Feb at Fourways hospital and they discovered that my hip bone is also fractured due to

the inpacked of the bullet as it entered me.My bum is full of scrapnel,which they say with time it will surface

to the top of my skin and that I must not try and remove it by myself.I still need to walk with this machine

for more or less six weeks for my bum to heel completley my fiance is assisting me to go to and from Dr. to Dr.

and hospital and helping me as I could not do it on my own.I am very glad and thank full that she could help

and take such good care of me.

When this incedent happened I was on duty at the time my employee's that were in the other vehicle confirmed

to me when I was in hospital in Beira that it was indeed Renamo soldiers in the bushes they said that they will

identyfy the soldiers if needed.(apparently there were alot more hiding in the bushes)more than the five we saw

my right hand window was open and all the bullets that came through my open window missed my fiance but shot

her window out on her side. some of the bullets are still in the door.I say the angels were watching over my

fiance as no bullets hit her. I know and thank the Lord that He was with us and that she was not hurt in anyway.

This nightmare is some thing I would not want anybody to go through something like this as it was a terrible experience.

But I thank the Lord that I'm here to be able to tell others what happened to us. I just want to thank

everybody and appriciate all and every one that helped and assisted me in this horrific incident. Special thanks

to my fiance, my management team,the stake holder in Beira, all the Dr's and nurses because with out them and the Lord

who held His hand over us, I would never had made it, with Gods willing I will stay positive and thank Him every day,

all the Dr's everywhere testify that I received a second chance in life and that I am a very strong man.

Please note aswell that the instruction was given from management that both the vehicles had to be branded

with company emblems on the front doors to be regonized and to be identified for collection of the material

that had to be loaded in Beira. The company vehicle was plundered and damaged by the Renamo soldiers.

Currently I'm still under doctor's treatment in Fourways Life hospital. The Dr's details is as follows:

1) Dr.L Mokete.(bones and joints spesialist)Orthopaedic Surgeon Contact no:011 8751855

2) Dr.Apostoleris Neurologist refferd by Dr.L. Mokete

3) Dr.Deon Weyers plastic surgeon Contact no:011 8751694

4) Dr.D.Jivan (specialist Neurologist and Dr. Randchod Neurology Contact no:011 8522110

5) Helen.V.Hamilton(Occupational Therapist) Contact no:011 8751678

6) Dr.Carel Roos Genaral practioner Contact no:012 3771226

Currently I'm suffering with nerve damage in my right arm (all nerves are damaged according to Dr Jivan and Dr Ranchod)

I can't close my right hand to make a fist and the hand and fingers are very sensitive and pain full and very stiff,

and have no power in my hand and the hand is very stupid and painfull.

Currently I'm suffering with pain in my right buttock as well as my back and neck.I'm a right hand dominant person

and I cant perform any work currently because of the seriousness of my injuries all on my right hand side.

Currently I struggle to sit and can only walk on even surfaces and I struggle to sleep at night,according to Dr Mokete

a final report will only be issued in 12 to 18 months regarding to my disablement of my injuries.

The reason why I need funding is because I have to cover all the costs.I need funding for the medical aid fund and to cover the legal costs of the lawayers in South-Africa and Mozambique

Thank you.

Gideon Petrus Brits.

Account Details

Name:MR GP Brits

Branch and Code: Hercules 8469

Acc Nr:9331304231