PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A Plettenberg Bay teenager says he is living in fear after what he describes as a "staged" kidnapping and brutal assault at the hands of a balaclava-clad man to "teach him a lesson" for allegedly shoplifting.

Darryl Isaacs (16), a Plettenberg Bay Secondary School learner, allegedly popped into a local grocery store on 12 February to buy a sandwich and some juice, but according to his mother Lettie Kleynhans this trip turned into a nightmare.

'Told to hand over a box'
Kleynhans said while Darryl was making his way to the checkout point, a security guard allegedly approached him and asked him to give another security guard at the shop's door a wrapped box.

"Darryl took the box, paid for his items and walked towards the door. He handed the box over to the woman at the door and proceeded to leave," Kleynhans said.

She added that as her son left the shop, another security guard allegedly approached him and asked him to follow him into an office in the shop.

"When he arrived in the office he saw the box he was given earlier, but at that stage it had been unwrapped and opened. Inside there were several items including juice, chips and sweets," she said.

Accused of stealing items
Kleynhans said the security guards allegedly accused him of stealing the items. She added that after questioning him, one of the security guards allegedly offered to take Darryl home.

"This is when things took a turn. My boy says on their way home the security guard phoned someone and asked the person to meet them somewhere and that he should wear a balaclava."

The mother said they allegedly made their way to the Ebenezer turnoff on the outskirts of Plettenberg Bay and proceeded to a deserted spot where they waited for about five minutes.

'He even began strangling him'
"A white Toyota Fortuner showed up," she said. "The driver was wearing a balaclava. He got out and forced my son out of the car. He started yanking him around and even began strangling him. He pushed his face into the ground and kicked him three times with his heavy safety boots. He threatened my son by saying that he would break his legs and have him expelled from school if he told anyone anything about the incident."

Kleynhans said the security guard then allegedly told Darryl that he would take him home. "On the way the security guard phoned me and told me that my son had been 'naughty' but that I shouldn't worry as he was fine and that he would take him home. I was on my way to Plett from Knysna at the time."

'My son is a good boy'
She added that she told the security guard that she did not believe him. "My son is a good boy. He would never do something like that."

The security guard allegedly dropped Darryl off in the vicinity of his home and left.

"It was already dark when I arrived home, but I found my son crying under his blankets on his bed. I just held him. He didn't tell me that he had been hurt."

Kleynhans said the following morning, at about 05:00, she went back to his room. He did not sleep at all. He started telling me everything."

She added that she immediately informed the school and called the police. She reported the matter to local police and also took her son to the doctor.

"They took some X-rays which showed that he had badly bruised ribs. He was in a lot of pain."

'He dreams of becoming a lawyer'
Kleynhans said her son was still in shock. "He is a very bright boy, with dreams of becoming a lawyer one day. His schoolwork has however started to suffer as a result of the incident." Plettenberg Bay police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed the incident and said police were investigating two cases.

"We are investigating a case of assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm as well as one of kidnapping."

Pieterse confirmed that no theft case had been opened against Darryl.

No arrests have been made.

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