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Lions star escapes armed robbery tragedy

Cape Town - Springbok and Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg had a narrow escape after robbers broke into his house last week.

Janse van Rensburg (22), his girlfriend Anzelle von Staden (23) and good friend Runan Venter (20), were watching a movie at the rugby star’s house in The Oaks Golf Estate in Boksburg when they were robbed by three armed men.

Janse van Rensburg told Netwerk24 that the robbers took three computers, a TV, R40 000 and all his clothes except his rugby jerseys.

The Springbok said one of the men was about to rape his girlfriend before he started praying loudly, which prompted the man to back off.

The robbers then tied up Von Staden and Venter, before forcing Janse van Rensburg to drop them off in his girlfriend’s car.

According to Janse van Rensburg, the men instructed him to stop near a squatter camp a few kilometres from his house.

“I heard them tell each other: ‘We have to shoot him, he has seen too much’. I made peace with the fact that it was my last night on earth. I know God loves me and I’ve had a good life.”

Janse van Rensburg said he asked the men if he could pray for them before they shoot him. The men then left him and fled.

Janse van Rensburg, who made his Springbok debut last year, is currently sidelined with a knee injury sustained playing for the Lions in Super Rugby.

He was ruled out for 12 weeks after suffering the injury in his side's 29-16 win over the Stormers at Newlands last month.

The midfielder has been one of the star performers for the Lions over the past two seasons and made his Springbok debut against Wales in Cardiff last year.

Janse van Rensburg recently lost his mother Renthia, who died after a long battle with cancer.

Read the full story on Netwerk24

Hierdie foto is vinoggend 4h geneem toe ons 3 vir die eerste keer veilig weer saam was .. Ons het gele en fliek kyk gister aand toe ons hondtjie begin blaf en grom , ek loop toe buite toe om te kyk wat gaan aan en toe ek links van my opi grasperk kyk kom 3 Swart mans met gewere op my af gehardloop en wil my skiet .. Hulle bind my en haar toe vas opi grond en sit die geweer teen ons koppe en se as ons n geluid maak skiet hulle my broer .. My broer moes toe die 3 swart mans gaan aflaai met ons kar en al die goed wat hulle gesteel het in n township terwyl ek en sy opi grond vasgebind was en kani beweeg nie . Ure later het hy veilig by ons 2 aangekom weer en ons Prys God dat hy letterlik AL AL sy engele om ons gehaad het in hierdie tyd .. Wees dankbaar vir wat jy injou lewe het dis sekondes dan verander jou lewe viraltyd ? . #OnsIsVeilig#PrysGodviraltyd#SoDankbaar

A post shared by Runan Venter (@runanventer) on

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