Parents of 25-year-old Ryan Baartman say they couldn’t save their son from a life of gangsterism. He was gunned down inside his bride’s home on their wedding day.
Baartman, a former member of the Americans gang who later joined the Hard Livings, was shot five times on 7 April, while holding his three-month-old baby. The infant was unharmed.
Bishop Dane Echardt said the 25-year-old went from being involved with the youth in church to a gang member.
Echardt, a former gangster himself, is the leader of Deuteronomy Assembly, which he runs from his Manenberg home.
“I left the gang 30 years ago when I moved to Manenberg,” the Bishop said.
He and his wife, Johanna, adopted Baartman and two other boys. They also have a biological son.
“I gave my heart to the Lord and I raised all my children in the church,” he added.
“We were very strict with them, but you don’t know what they do when they leave the house.”
All their adopted sons have joined gangs, the other two are in jail, while things took a fatal end for Baartman.
On the day of his death, Baartman’s fiancé answered a knock on the door, the Bishop explained.
“They said it was the police but Ryan apparently recognised the voice [as a rival gangster] and ran to the back of the house.”
According to the father, the killers kicked in the door and started shooting.
“With the first gunshot he fell on his back and the baby fell on his chest as he died.”
Johanna said: “He died on the day he was supposed to get married. When I heard the news I was at peace.”
Bishop Dane added: “I know it’s not easy to leave a gang but I always encourage the youngsters in my community to give God a chance instead of throwing their lives away.”
A 36-year-old man was arrested and appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday on the charge of murder.
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