Original subtitles

I just pulled this bazooka on his hand.

Everything slows down. You sink in seconds.

We noticed the weapons, you could really make war with them.

Abusayaf were known to rape, behead and kill their captives.

You don't want to know that they're killing other people, because if they're

killing other people, it meant that they can kill you as well.

And Khalid said to me,

We might die today.

Kali had just taken on a big corporate job at one of the corporate banks, so

things were going really well with her.

We decided to go to Malaysia.

We've heard about Cipitan Island.

It is one of the best beach diving sites in the world.

We don't get a lot of time together, so it's the one thing that we both love

doing. I love to go close to her and perhaps just touch her hair and show a

that I really love her.

It was exquisitely beautiful. The sea was calm. It was blue.

It was everything they promised it to be.

It was really paradise.

Hey, look at this.

We thought of it as possibly a last holiday before we wanted to have

You always manage to find the strangest things.

When we got...

At the beginning of the year 2000, there was a lot of pressure on us to start

with a family.

So lovely.

I really didn't want children. I love Kali, so eventually we had to get to a

point where we had to do the family thing.

Everything was perfect at the time, but little did we know what lied ahead.

Yeah, we just felt so safe and peaceful.

We wouldn't think that there would be danger around the corner.

This was a very small, unique resort.

Yeah, great.

And we were starting to make friends.

Like you.

Good.

People were relaxed.

They were at ease.

really getting down into the swing of a holiday.

I was sitting with my back to the kitchen.

Suddenly we heard this noise coming from the kitchen.

And it sounded like people were fighting. It was loud, it was

Suddenly we saw these strange -looking...

people coming, bursting into our territory and onto the wooden deck.

I just saw this bazooka on his hand.

Everything slows down.

You think in seconds, because you try and stop, you try and make sense out of

what's happening.

The first thing we remember was them shouting something like...

Police, police, illegal immigrants.

He was wearing those army camouflage pants.

He had a T -shirt on.

I just remember looking at him and thinking, you're not the police.

They looked like thugs, to be honest.

We noticed the weapons that they were carrying.

I'd been to National Service in South Africa.

and had been fighting in the Angola War.

These were heavy -duty rifles.

You could really make war with that.

We were shocked.

Nobody screamed, nobody shouted. We were just so shocked.

I said to myself, they were robbers, pirates, and they came to rob us and

whatever they could steal.

They were just walking around with their hands, give, give, give.

They grabbed my wedding ring.

There was no emotional attachment to that. It was just do what they tell us

do so that they can get away.

And then they told us to move out.

Then we saw there was not just the robbery motive behind it.

And then I got really scared because then I said to myself, why?

Why would they want to take us?

They put a gun to each one of us.

They were taking us somewhere else.

And at that point, we really thought that they were going to kill us.

And that was the purpose for taking us past the chalets.

What can they do? They can rape us and kill us. It's the only two things. They

can take our bodies and our lives because they've taken everything else.

I looked next to me and there was a big bush.

I just said to myself, I should just jump and hide behind the bush.

And then I thought of Kali, because Kali was right next to me and I thought, if

I do this, then Kali's not going to see me.

And they're going to have him.

And in that split second, the man looked back again.

And the opportunity was gone.

And then I just thought, go, just do what they say.

As we went through the bushes, we saw an opening.

And on the beach, we saw...

two small wooden boats.

I just thought getting is not good because if I get in here it means

else is going to happen.

It seemed impossible that they wanted to get Oliver on these boats.

And that's where they said go, go, go.

The next moment we heard the loud scream really from one

of the ladies present.

The couple were Americans.

She was screaming, I can't swim, I can't swim.

She was saying that there was no way that she was prepared to get into the

boats.

And her husband was there trying to get her up and one of the men just walked to

her and he shouted, I'll kill, I'll kill.

Monique tried to even assist her to get onto the boat.

I shouted to the rebel, don't shoot her, don't shoot her.

But she was absolutely in a hysteric state.

They were seconds away from pulling the trigger.

I don't know at what stage it happened.

They were in a hurry to get away.

So they made a decision to leave them and not to shoot her.

They're headed in a westerly direction, and I knew that there were no land

within hundreds of miles.

I said to him, maybe we should consider jumping.

It wasn't like him to say, let's jump.

He's normally the quiet one.

He's an accountant, and he doesn't resolve things with aggression.

I was just too terrified that they were going to shoot at us.

or that the sea currents would take us because we were now in open ocean.

I was just too scared and I said to him, no, we can't jump.

I really felt very guilty afterwards because I thought, had I jumped, had I

listened to him, we maybe could have gotten away.

There are 10 foreign tourists among the hostages.

Malaysian police say heavily armed gunmen arrived on the island last night.

Security has been stepped up around the island of Sipadan.

One man, Danny Chin, managed to slip away from the gang before they herded

captives onto two boats.

So after they take everybody, including the guests, and they said, come on,

move, move, move, move.

Among those kidnapped were nine Malaysians and a Filipino working on the

along with three Germans, two French, two South Africans, two Finns and one

Lebanese.

We were on the boat for just under 20 hours.

We were starving.

We were burnt. We were dehydrated. We were terrified.

The people that were attacking us mentioned something about Abu Sayyaf and

word meant nothing to us at that time.

The Philippine Minister of Defense says the kidnappers may belong to the Muslim

separatist group Abu Sayyaf.

This is a fanatical fundamentalist terrorist group that has been using

kidnapping and assassinations as its weapon.

It is a small group, but they have taken advantage of propaganda to articulate

their views.

Because I read all these spy stories, somewhere I read that you must become a

personality and not stay a number because people kill numbers easily.

I just thought I need to do something.

We saw one of the leaders playing with his beads.

We realized that it was a Muslim individual and he was in fact praying.

And I looked up at him and I said to him, Assalamu alaikum.

And I didn't want to use the word terrorist. I said, are you freedom

Freedom fighter.

Assalamu alaikum.

We could hardly communicate.

Only the captain, Captain Robot, could talk English.

And we could get very little out of them.

Commander Robot turned to me in very broken English.

He said to me, You are our instrument.

You are our instrument.

We were really scared.

Just before sunset the following afternoon, we arrived on a small island.

We had no idea where in the world we were.

I just remember

thinking, where are we?

And thinking of my parents and thinking...

that I'm going to disappear.

That thought was really upsetting.

I think it's one thing to be killed, but it's another thing to always have your

family wonder about your whereabouts and whether you're alive or not.

I just remember thinking, where are we? And thinking of my parents and thinking

that I'm going to disappear.

The South African couple are Kelly and Monique Stridham from Johannesburg.

Their distraught family said that they remain hopeful that they will return

safely. My dad is an ex -military man, so I knew it would absolutely kill him

he couldn't do anything to help.

It is difficult.

You feel helpless.

You feel hopeless.

But you still have hope.

That's all.

We hope everything will be all right.

My dad collapsed within the first week. He just couldn't deal with the fact that

he couldn't do anything.

He just collapsed.

We were then taken up to a hut.

All that I remember was that there was a Backstreet Boys poster.

And I thought, this is really crazy. It feels to me like we're in the middle of

nowhere. How do they know about the Backstreet Boys?

It was 8 o 'clock at night where we received the first bit of food, which...

People were just so frightened.

We didn't know what was going on and what was going to happen.

They couldn't believe it. That was like being in a...

Foreign movie, really.

They came back into the hut and they told us to get out.

And we moved into the jungle.

And they told us to sit down.

And the next moment... And they took some of the hostages.

In our minds, we had a million options to what they want and what they want to

do.

But we had no answers.

What made me panic was I saw a bag with ropes.

and muffling equipment.

I could see that Kali was getting really upset.

And I said to Monique, I think they're really shooting the hostages.

I just heard these faint, bluffing noise.

Again, there.

And I was really terrified because we could hear these poof, poof, poof noises

all the time.

He said to me, these are the sounds of weapons with silencers and I know it.

I think they're killing them.

They took these people away to kill them.

Commander Robot, who was sitting next to us, eventually fell asleep.

In sheer desperation...

I considered to take a knife that we still had and attack Commander Robot.

What are you going to do? I said to him,

you can't do it.

What are you going to gain?

It's not going to help us, you killing that man.

It was only when she started to calm me down and try

and talk sense into me that I refrained from doing anything about it.

It was difficult for him to get his fear under control.

It was one of the most frightening stages of the whole experience,

as we just arrived on the island.

Later on, the robot said to us to make sure we're not lying under a tree.

Coconut! The noises we were hearing was actually coconuts falling off trees.

It was enormous relief when we saw the other hostages.

And it was only when I realized that they were safe that I was really at

But it just shows you if you're in a situation like that and you're terrified

and you don't know what's going on, you make up things, you always think the

worst thing is going to happen or the worst thing, I don't know, maybe just

prepare yourself for when it happens to you.

It was strange in the first place to see a person with a camera walking into the

camp.

doing interviews. I mean, it was so unreal.

The rebels had no fear of the media. They were actually boasting to be on the

camera and fighting to get a space.

Can you estimate the size of this room?

They invited a journalist to find out what the conditions were like.

It's very hot, you know.

Treatment is not very good in terms of food, it's very basic.

And therefore, you know, I think we're getting a little bit weaker as time goes

by.

The basic conditions initially was absolutely appalling.

We got a plate of rice once a day that we had to share.

When these people had water, they would keep the water for themselves.

Just sleeping and living in a hut four by four metres without proper

nutrition.

started to take its toll on us very quickly.

We don't have enough food, we don't have to drink, we just wait for the rain to

fall to have water.

There is a reason for everything that happens. There must be a reason for

Part of the Abathir's strategy was to get the media involved, to

use it to their advantage.

They wanted people in jails in Malaysia to be looked after better and they

wanted an independent state where they were.

There were lots of other demands.

There was an old newspaper that was on the floor.

We learned that Abu Sayyaf were known to rape, behead and kill their captives.

This is the group who kill people in bomb shops.

They said to us at one point in time that You shouldn't try to run away

from us or even if you did we will find you wherever you are in the world

We were really really scared

It is on the fifth day I woke up.

And I just instinctively knew something was wrong.

All the rebels had packed their little bags.

We asked them, why are you packing?

They didn't tell us.

And then I looked into their eyes and...

That's when I saw that they were really terrified.

The leaders told us that the Philippine military put a cordon around the camp.

He soon realized that there were military trucks moving with troops

along the highway.

2 ,000 government troops are surrounding the rebels, but the impenetrable jungle

is making their task of cornering the separatists extremely difficult.

We just couldn't think that the military would attack us or do anything to

jeopardize our safety.

We thought the Philippine military was there to protect us.

I asked for a volunteer to go up and talk to the radio station.

He said to us, the military are moving in and they need to do something to stop

the military.

The group decided that I should go.

I was worried that something was going to happen to him, that they might walk

into a trap or the military might shoot at them and that I might not see him

again. Thank you.

We marched for two hours before we got to this hill.

And they gave me a written verse.

Hello.

This is from South Africa.

This is from South Africa.

South Africa, you're one of the hostages, right?

That's right, I'm one of the hostages.

Yes.

I have got a message.

Yes, go ahead.

For the interest of the safety of the hostages.

We're making an urgent request to the UN and the IOC to make the Philippine

government stop all military action. This is in the interest of the safety of

the hostages.

That night, they were extremely cautious of a military attack.

We heard the radio intercom going. You could hear the people getting excited in

a fearful way that danger was approaching.

At about 11 o 'clock, a rebel came running into the camp.

We heard this incredible eruption.

People started shooting at us.

Gunfire coming from all directions.

Bullets were flying all over the place.

It was this war that broke out around us.

I grabbed money and...

tried to take shelter.

We were trying to get away from the bullets.

It was total chaos in the camp.

Rebels were running in all directions, not knowing exactly where the shooting

was coming from.

We looked up and there was a rebel and he made us get up and run.

I think he was trying to escape with us but they were just shooting everywhere.

One guy was determined to really protect us. He was amazing.

And as we were running, we could hear the bullets.

You can hear the bullets.

We could see the bullets ripping through the leaves, really going right next

to us.

And then it got quiet.

The military took out their second weapon.

You hear it when they shoot it. It makes this poof sound.

A 105mm ground -to -air missile.

And then you hear it when it comes in because it whistles.

And then the first thing exploded.

And, sorry.

They were literally just shelling it in the middle of the camp.

You just hear the earth shudder and tremble as they explode next to you.

You can't run away. The earth has been coming. It was coming and coming.

And we couldn't get away.

We couldn't really go. Anyway, we were trapped.

I fell on top of him.

And I really realized that

today might be our very last day.

And Kali turned to me and he said to me, you have to make peace.

We might die today.

I still remember saying to Kali after, I said, I don't want to die today.

I said to him, I still want a baby.

It was really the first time that I really meant it.

The fact that she made that step,

Yeah, it just meant the world to me.

I just thought to myself, I've done so many great things and I've had so many

adventures and I've seen the world, but that is the one thing I haven't done

yet.

We really surrendered our life and our situation to God.

Monique always says that she felt like we had a bubble around us which

protected us throughout that shooting.

The leaders eventually managed to get back to us.

We eventually just collapsed under...

banana trees.

That attack lasted for about five hours.

Everybody was extremely shaken.

The way that the Philippine government had performed that attack showed

to us that they had no inclination.

about our real safety, and they were prepared to sacrifice whatever it takes.

Have you seen any soldiers?

Yeah, there are so many soldiers everywhere.

I think that was the turning point in our relationship with the rebels.

They have ignored our demands. No one has come from the UN, and they're still

shelling.

We will fight to the death.

I think we started trusting them.

They came forward and they protected us.

This footage was filmed as the rebels tried to break through a cordon of

government troops.

They managed to find a secure way through the cordon.

So we managed basically to break through that cordon and then we started hiking.

A lot of the stuff was left behind in the camp.

So we basically didn't have water and we didn't have food. We were exhausted. We

were very thirsty.

Travelling and walking without proper nutrition was having a toll.

It was just wanting to survive that gave us that energy to go on.

I think we had a false sense of security because they were protecting us against

the military and that created a false trust.

And that was just shattered one day.

We tried to do regular things and one of them was

going for a bath in the river, even though it meant that you often came

back. dirtier than you were before you went.

It was all these youngsters and they would sit there and look at you.

The rebels wouldn't keep their eyes off the women.

One day I just laughed it completely.

I just shouted to Kali, tell them to look away.

He didn't lose his temper often, he just shouted.

Can you just stop it please, stop it!

Look away, don't look at the women. And one of them just... Pulled out a gun and

he aimed and he started shooting at us.

The shootings were just there to frighten us. They were doing it just to

off and to drive us into a state of mind.

It wasn't for their religious beliefs anymore.

It became personal.

Initially they said to us, we will not rape the women, we will not kill you.

And we held on to that.

And then they started raping the Western women.

They would come into the camp.

And it was that fear, you know, when you'd sit there and you would wait and

wouldn't breathe and you'd think, are they coming for me?

I think the women were extremely strong.

In that situation, I think the men were much more affected, realizing they

couldn't protect the women.

Some of those men just collapsed.

They just couldn't deal with it.

I was so scared that I actually got an English Quran and I just tried to find

all these verses where it says you have to respect a woman.

I would rather die than get raped.

I thought if they come for me I will put up a fight.

I'd rather die.

We decided to stick together as much as possible and

thankfully for us that didn't happen.

We got the first food parcel and it was a NATO rat pack.

And eventually these channels opened up. The reporters started that when they

started smuggling things in and out.

You know, to get news from your loved ones and family and strangers that we

never met.

This is that hair.

Friends, you must hang in there.

I don't know what really to say to you.

All I want to say is come back.

We're doing everything in our power to get you out of there.

It was an enormous strength and a motivation for us to continue and carry

during that time.

Galab Andang, the Abu Sayyaf leader, also known as Commander Robot, held a

surprise meeting with the Muslim provincial governor on the island of

where the 21 captives are being imprisoned.

There were lots of rumour and speculation that negotiations were

at a point that agreement could be reached.

The Philippine government sent in a negotiator.

Roberto Aventajado was allowed to see them after face -to -face negotiations

with rebel leaders.

Certain demands were being met.

A Filipino negotiator saying, you're going out, you're going to be released

two weeks' time.

Then, after that, nothing happened.

They said to us at one stage that the rebels asked for money.

I know South Africa's got a no -ransom policy, so it was really a catch -22.

They had to find another way to solve this.

The slow pace of negotiations are frustrating the captives. It looks

it will take months rather than weeks to secure their freedom.

Kali was really depressed.

and it looked like he was busy giving up.

Just this week we are getting more and more rumours that this will take on a

very long time and I don't think we will be able to take that. We are finished,

we're tired.

We cannot face this anymore.

If you give up hope, you will die.

And that day we just gave up hope. We just said it's not going to happen.

And I had a dream that night.

I dreamt I was going to get out and I dreamt that I have to go back and make a

difference.

And I woke up the next morning.

I was cheerful and I was happy.

And I said to Kali, we're going to get out and I have to start a charity and

we're going to use this experience to change the lives of other people.

Negotiators trying to secure the release of the hostages being held on Holo

Island in the southern Philippines have expressed optimism that the captives

will be freed within the next... The latest developments arise from the

intervention of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is reported to have agreed

pay the Abu Sayyaf rebels 150 million rand in ransom for the hostages. In the

meantime, South Africa's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Lindiwe

expected to fly to Kholo Island tomorrow morning to prepare for the release of

the two South African captives, Kali and Monique Stradham.

We had lunch, and just after lunch, we were just there washing dishes when the

next moment there was a commotion and this group of people walked in.

Robot said, you're free.

What? We didn't believe them.

And then Robot said, back, back.

You've got four minutes. You're free.

Four women and one man.

And then we said to Robot, who's the man? Who's the man?

Him.

And they said, no.

They're not going to release me today, but... Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Then I said, I'm not going without Kali.

And then Kali took me and Kali said, you have to go.

You have to go. And I said, I'm not going. And he said, you have to go.

I was holding on to what Robert said and it was such a stupid thing to do

because he's already proven that he never kept his word.

And then I said, I'm not going without Kali.

And then Kali took me and Kali said, you have to go.

Eventually I just said, look, you have to go.

You can't stay behind.

That's what she did. And obviously trying and...

very emotional all the way.

I think it was the most difficult thing I had to do.

It's like taking away a piece of your own flesh.

We lifted up and I looked down onto this island and it's a really beautiful

island full of beautiful trees and it's just beautiful and peaceful.

I just thought, there's so much evil there.

It's so pretty, but there's so much evil.

My worst fear was that he was not going to get out, get killed, and I got out.

And now I remember that so clearly.

The next morning I got a phone call and it was the leader of the South African

task team and he said, Monique, I've got good news.

I just remember looking for her out of the...

There were hundreds of people waiting on the outside.

I just ran to him.

And he just grabbed me. I don't think we said anything.

We just held each other. We were just so happy.

Just seeing her and being united at the time was

incredible.

We need to practice this.

I always challenge people. I say to people, try and live with your husband

24 hours a day for four months and see if your marriage will survive that.

And under such bad circumstances, then, yeah, we did. We survived it.

We landed at the airport and we looked outside and there were hundreds of

and there were cameras and lights.

People with posters and people screaming and shouting.

Everyone

got

together. When they heard I was released, the packing ladies in the shop

dancing and singing.

People were hanging out of the taxis, shouting.

What happened to us really united the country. It was black and white.

The most important thing was just to sit foot on the ground and return back to

our families.

My dad was there and my sisters were there.

And we just grabbed everyone and we couldn't get enough of people. We were

holding each other.

It made me realize what's important in life. And it's not your house or your

car. It's really about the people.

A mother who held on and prayed for you for so long.

And a dad who didn't give up on you.

Those are the important things.

And we have a beautiful son now.

Yeah,

we definitely see the fact that we have a family as an evidence that something

really, really good came out of our experience.

And every day we are thankful for that.