Johannesburg - The family of a 15-year-old boy who died in April 2012 after a 10-week stay at a controversial “game ranger training camp” was banned from contacting him during his stay, Beeld reported on Tuesday.
An emaciated Raymond Buys was admitted to a Vereeniging hospital with numerous physical injuries, including skull fractures, and died a month later.
Buys' mother, Wilna Buys, testified in the Vereeniging District Court on Monday against the camp owner, Alex de Koker, 49, and his employee, Michael Erasmus, 20.
The two men pleaded not guilty on charges of murder, child abuse and neglect, failure to provide adequate clothing, food, housing or assistance and two charges of assault.
Raymond was dropped off at the centre in January 2012 by his family.
According to his mother, he was very excited to be training as a ranger, and they next saw him on March 24, in hospital.
“My child was a skeleton. He had head injuries and torn ears, there were bruises on his face and arms and cigarette burns on his body,” she told the court.
The case continues. - Sapa