The family of 12-year-old Ryan Swayze have been left heartbroken after their son was beaten to death by the owners of a car dealership in De Deur for allegedly trying to steal a Toyota quantum.
Ryan and his friend Sibusiso Zwane, 10, were found playing at a dealership on the R82 road. They were accused of trying to steal a car by the security guard, who slapped them around before calling the owner of the dealership.
Upon the arrival of the owner the beatings got harder, and the pair were beaten with golf clubs and were kicked around by the staff at the dealership.
Hearing cries for help a passer-by went to investigate and found that he knew both the children. He could not rescue them, but went to tell their parents.
Sean Swayze, who is Ryan's brother, told The Star that as soon as he heard that his brother was being brutally beaten at the dealership he went there to investigate, but found no one there.
He went to the police station and reported the matter, but was refused help by the police who did not co-operate with him. When night fell, the two young boys had still not been found.
The next morning, which was a Saturday, one of the boys, Sibusiso, was found. He and Ryan were dumped near a river in the Vaal and left for dead. Sibusiso had managed to crawl next to a main road where he was taken by a stranger to the hospital. He had broken bones, and his eyes were swollen. His friend Ryan died where the boys were dumped.
Sean told The Star that when his brother's body was found it had deep wounds and his skull was fractured.
"We still cannot believe this. How can anyone do this to a child? Why could they not call the police instead?" Sean asked.
Sean said his brother's lifeless body was found at a spot where dead bodies are normally found. His family was still recovering from the death of their mother a few months ago.
Sean was told by the police that the owner of the dealership had been arrested, but he blamed his workers for the situation. The workers, including a security guard, were nowhere to be found. It is understood that they are undocumented foreign nationals, which makes them hard to find.
Funeral arrangements were still being discussed by the Swayze family.
Meanwhile, Lawrence Zwane, who is Sibusiso's father, said he was grateful that his son was still alive, but he could not stop crying when he spoke to The Star.
Zwane said that what broke his hear was seeing his child with swollen eyes and a dislocated shoulder. His fingers were also broken. He said the thought of his son crawling to safety next to a bush in the Vaal was terrifying.
"Anything could have happened to him. My son does not know how to drive, I do not understand why these people would bring me so much pain," Zwane said.
Sibusiso is in critical condition at the Sebokeng Hospital. His father said the ordeal would affect him psychologically,
The Star understands that the children’s parents tried contacting one of the workers at the dealership on the night they disappeared. The worker told the parents that they had to ask his boss where the children were. The worker has since disappeared.
Two families have been left broken. The De Deur police station has become known for its inefficiency, with the community in the past threatening to burn it down.
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Sello said a 39-years-old man was arrested on Tuesday following the death of a 12-year-old boy at De Deur.
“According to reports, on 26 March 2022, two boys aged nine and 12 were found badly beaten by a passers-by at Meyerton. One of them died while the youngest one was taken to hospital. It is alleged that the boys were found in a dealership yard. They were assaulted and dumped at Meyerton area,” Sello said.
“The owner of the dealership is arrested and is expected to appear before Vereeniging Rigional Court today for murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.”