Traducere Blogul Agnus Dei Articol – http://mg.co.za/article/2014-12-02-groenewald-tried-to-rescue-children-before-shooting
Werner Groenewald, un voluntar in scopuri caritabile din Africa de Sud, a incercat in zadar sa-si protejeze pe cei doi copii ai sai la momente inainte de a fi impuscati mortal de Taliban in weekend-ul trecut, in Afganistan.
,,L-au impuscat pe Werner in picior, in biroul sau si atunci el a fugit sus la etaj unde erau copii sai (Rode si Jean-Pierre), incercand sa-i protejeze,” a relatat luni cumnata sa Riana du Plessis, care locuieste in Pretoria. La cateva minute dupa aceea familia a fost omorata.
Du Plessis a izbucnit in lacrimi la telefon in timp ce vorbea despre familia ei, care s-au mutat cu ani in urma in Afganistan. Atacul a avut loc Sambata la birourile Partenerilor in Academie si Dezvoltare (PAD), unde Groenewald a locuit si a lucrat.
,,Trei insurgenti au intrat in casa deghizati in haine de politisti – unul dintre ei fiind un sinucigas cu bombe pe el – iar ceilalti doi aveau in mainile lor arme,” a spus ea.
L-au impuscat prima data pe Groenewald in picior, inainte ca el sa fuga sus la etaj, si apoi au tras la intamplare la subsol, unde mai erau membri ai personalului. Atacul talibanilor a durat timp de patru ore.
,,Au luat oameni ca ostatici… si apoi s-au dus sus din nou dupa Werner. L-au impuscat din nou pe Werner si pe copiii sai. Acolo a fost locul unde au murit,” a spus Du Plessis. Dupa aceea au dat foc casei.
Potrivit organizatiei PAD, ceilalti membrii ai personalului au fost raniti. Du Plessis a spus ca: ,,Ei au crezut ca Werner a fost un misionar care a r fi incercat sa converteasca pe musulmani la crestinism, dar Werner nu a fost un misionar. El a fost doar un voluntar care a incercat sa ridice Afganistanul.El a facut acolo lucruri mari. Afganistanul a pierdut un om mare. Nu stiu ce mostenire va lasa in urma lui.”
Hannelie Groenewald, sotia lui Groenewald, se afla la o clinica din Kabul unde lucra in timpul atacului. ,,Cand a ajuns la casa, a vazut cele trei trupuri (a celor din familia ei) scoase afara cu targa si puse in ambulanta,” a spus Du Plassis.
Sora ei a ramas inca in Afganistan incercand sa rezolve cu repatrierea si transportul celor trei trupuri. Ea nu a putut sa dea mai multe detalii despre sora ei Hannelie, din motive de securitate.
Copii Extraordinari
Du Plessis a descris pe nepotii dansei, Rode si Jean-Pierre ca niste copii care s-au inteles cu toata lumea.
,,Chiar i-am intrebat pe copii la telefon cu o ora si jumatate inaintea incidentului cum sunt, a povestit ea plangand.
,,Au fost copii extraordinari, ca si copiii mei. JP a iubit tecnologia, el a vrut sa devina pilot… Au fost copii foarte cuminti, usor sa te intelegi cu ei.”
Du Plessis a spus ca face aranjamente ca funeralul sa se tina la Biserica Reformata Olandeza din Morelata Park, unde Werner Groenewald a fost Pastor. Directorul Executiv al bisericii, Pieter Breytenbach a fost foarte intristat de aceasta veste. ,,Werner a fost un om foarte iubitor. A fost o persoana comisa si a simtit ca a avut chemarea din partea lui Dumnezeu ca sa-i ridice pe oamenii din Afganistan.”
Departamentul international de relatii a ajutat ca sa asigure visa de emergenta pentru Hannelie Groenewald pentru ca ea sa se poata intoarca acasa in Africa de Sud.
Salvata pentru un motiv
Ziarul Beeld a raportat ca Hannelie a spus ca Dumnezeu a salvat-o pentru un motiv. Intr-un interviu telefonic cu ziarul Afrikaans, Hannelie Groenewald a spus ca ea ar fi vrut sa moare impreuna cu sotul si copiii ei,, dar este clar ca Dumnezeu are alte planuri pentru mine”.
,,Am pace in sufletul meu. Eu stiu unde sunt sotul si copiii mei,” a spus ea la ziarul Afrikaans. Ea a spus ca oameni din intreaga lume o poarta in rugaciunile lor. „Sunt bine.”
Ea sta la niste prieteni si spera sa se reinatoarca in Africa de Sud intr-o saptamana.
,,Dupa aceea vom avea funeralul. Viata mea s-a rotit in jurul sotului si copiilor mei, iar acum ei nu mai sunt. In cursul zilei cand sunt ocupata sunt bine, dar serile sunt dificile cand imi dau seama ca am fost lasata in urma singura.” – Sapa
ENGLISH
South African aid worker Werner Groenewald tried in vain to protect his two children moments before they were shot dead by the Taliban in Afghanistan at the weekend.
“They shot Werner in his office in the leg and then he ran upstairs to go try and protect his children [Rode and Jean-Pierre],” Groenewald’s sister-in-law Riana du Plessis, who lives in Pretoria, told Sapa on Monday. Minutes later the family was dead.

Photo Werner Groenewald (46 ani) cu fiica Rode (15 ani) si fiul Jean-Pierre (17 ani) ambii copii ucisi cu tata.
Du Plessis burst into tears on the telephone as she spoke of her family, who had moved to Afghanistan years ago. The attack happened on Saturday at the offices of the Partnership in Academics and Development (PAD) in Kabul, where Groenewald lived and worked.
“Three of them [the insurgents] entered the house and they were disguised as policemen – one was a suicide bomber – and the other two had guns in their hands,” she said.
They first shot Groenewald in the leg before he ran upstairs, and then randomly fired shots in the basement, where other staff members were. The attack by the Taliban went on for four hours.
“They took people hostage … and then they went upstairs after Werner again. They shot Werner again and the children. That’s where they died,” said Du Plessis. After that the house was set alight.
According to PAD, the other staff members emerged with injuries. Du Plessis said: “They thought Werner was a missionary trying to convert Muslims to Christians, but Werner was not. He was an aid worker there to uplift Afghanistan. He did great work. “They lost a great person in Afghanistan. I don’t know what legacy he will leave behind.”
Groenewald’s wife Hannelie Groenewald was at a clinic in Kabul where she worked when the attack happened. “When she got to the house, she saw the three bodies [of her family] taken out of the house and put into the ambulance,” said Du Plessis.
Her sister was still in Afghanistan trying to sort out the repatriation of the three bodies and “logistics”. She could not provide any further details relating to Hannelie for security reasons.
Great children
Du Plessis described her niece Rode (15) and Jean-Pierre (17) as people who got along with everyone. “I WhatsApped the children about an hour-and-a-half before the incident,” she recalled weeping.
“They were great children, like my own children. JP loved technology, he wanted to become a pilot … They were very nice children, easy people to get along with.”
Du Plessis said she would be making arrangements for their funeral to be held at the Dutch Reformed Church in Moreleta Park, where Werner Groenwald used to be a pastor. The church’s chief executive, Pieter Breytenbach, said he was saddened by the news. “He [Werner] was really a loveable guy. He was a committed person and felt he was called [by God] for the upliftment of the Afghanistan people.”
The department of international relations was helping to secure an emergency visa for Hannelie Groenewald so that she could return to South Africa. “An emergency visa is given by the department of home affairs, but we are facilitating the process,” spokesman Nelson Kgwete said.
Saved for a reason
Hannelie believes God saved her life for a reason, Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday. In a phone interview with the Afrikaans daily, Hannelie Groenewald said she would have wanted to die with her husband and two teenage children, “but God clearly has other plans for me”.
“I have peace in my heart. I know where my husband and children are,” she said in Afrikaans. Groenewald said people from all over the world were carrying her in their prayers. “I am okay.”
She was currently staying with friends and hoped to be back in South Africa within about a week.
“Then we have to hold the funeral. My life revolved around my husband and children and now they are gone. During the day it is okay when I am busy, but the evenings are difficult when I realise I am have been left behind alone.” – Sapa