The Ina Bonnette story...as told by Ina Bonnette

Ina Bonnette told her story in court today – testifying in camera. Her former husband Johan Kotze is accused – with others – of raping and violating her. Proceedings were in camera because of the nature of the crime and the details that have emerged.

Our journalist Karin Labuschagne was one of the few journalists allowed into the court – and tells you the Ina Bonnette story – AS TOLD BY HER in court.

The JacarandaFM newsteam acknowledges the fact that the story is in the public domain – BUT HAS DECIDED TO EDIT THE STORY AS IT UNFOLDED – out of respect to Ina and also because of the gruesome nature of the story.

What you will find here is Ina’s story – as she tells it.

Offered numerous times to stop if she so wanted to – by the Judge - she decided to continue telling her story – and face her alleged attackers.

WE WARN THAT SOME OF THE DETIALS of this story – by Ina Bonnet - even though EDITED by us – remains gruesome.

 

PART 1 with (EDIT)

Testifying in camera in the North Gauteng High Court, Ina Bonnette gave a gruesome account of the day she was attacked:

 

In a soft voice and looking over to judge as she leant forward and began to talk, Bonnette said she and Kotze tried to reconcile, and things ended after she went to a function and came back to an empty house.

 

Bonnette referred to Kotze as "Meneer Kotze" in her testimony, and Kotze did not take his eyes off Bonnette as she answered. Once again wearing his glasses, he looked down after she spoke. The 3 co-accused also listened attentively to Bonnette as she testified.

All four of the men in the dock hung on her every word.

Bonnette began to document the chilling events of that day:

 

 

 

Bonnette: On 23rd December, Kotze asked that Conrad and I come over, saying he had bought Christmas presents. On 3rd January, I went over to his house after he sms'ed me. He greeted me and suggested we sit outside. He took a sip of my water and asked that we enter the house. He said there was a box of my things left in the room.

Bonnette began to swallow as she started telling how they entered the house.

Bonnette: He let me enter first through the kitchen backdoor. He said I should go to the room at the end of the hallway. There was a table outside the room, with a towel. He picked it up, and as he did coins fell out. He ordered me to just keep on walking to the room, which I did. I asked whether I could pick up the coins, he said his domestic worker was coming in the next day.

 

Bonnette: The room was dark. The curtains were drawn. I put my handbag down. He put the towel over my head and grabbed me from behind. I was fighting back and kicking, trying to get the towel off my head. He fastened the towel tighter and threw me on the bed. A light came on. The towel was removed. And I saw three black men.

 

Bonnette: I tried to get up. I was kicking and screaming. Meneer Kotze sat over me and yelled "Hendrik, Andries, kom help"

Bonnette was asked to look at the accused to identify whether she knew them. "I only knew accused 1" (Kotze).

Bonnette took out a tissue and her voice started shaking. Says she also recognizes accused 2.

The State asks why?

Bonnette: "The deep wrinkles on his forehead. His moustache. And THOSE eyes"

Bonnette: Tape was placed on my mouth around my head. I had a small space to breathe through my right nostril.

Bonnette: He kept on yelling allegations.

State: What did he say?

Bonnette: Must I really answer?

Bonnette cries and answers: "He said today, you'll know what it feels like to be raped" and gives a loud sob.

Kotze shook his head, while the 3 co-accused remained expressionless.

Bonnette: He (Kotze) (EDIT). I was fighting him. And he asked for help. Kotze lifted my body.

Bonnette: Accused #2 took off my clothes. (EDIT). Kotze started slapping me and punching me on my chest and yelling more allegations.

Bonnette said Kotze stood up and spoke to his daughter over the phone, saying "she's lying my child"

Bonnette: The other accused were still in the room. And I so begged them with my eyes to help me.

Bonnette shakes as she recollects Kotze (EDIT) while saying "Ek is so lief vir jou ounooi"

In court, Kotze took off his glasses, took out a handkerchief and wiped his eyes as Ina continued shaking and fighting the tears.

The Judge asked Bonnette whether she wanted to take a break. She shook her head, "kan ons die stukkie deurgaan asb U edele"

Bonnette started describing how Kotze took a nail from his pocket(EDIT). She looked down while crying. While looking at Ina, Kotze started crying, as the co-accused looked over at Kotze.

Bonnette: It was unbearable. He lifted my (EDIT).

Bonnette shook while covering her face with her hands. She whispered "can we take a short break please?"

 

PART 2 with (EDIT)

Bonnette continued with her testimony.

Bonnette: He (Kotze) cut (EDIT) with a side-cutter and proceeded to(EDIT)

Bonnette: He had a knife. He then took a bottle of water and threw it over me. Kotze said he was going to cool me down before the action was going to start.

Bonnette: He tried to cut my hair. He was very sweaty. And very aggressive

Bonnette: He stood up to get the gun from the cupboard and said "(EDIT)". He then pointed the gun at me and told me to lie still.

 

 

Bonnette said it was the same gun Kotze and her son used to go and shoot some time ago.

Bonnette: He drank a lot of water and went to the cupboard, where he took out more objects. He lifted my (EDIT) and made wild actions with it. He inserted (EDIT).

Ina again starts crying.

Bonnette: He told the other accused to (EDIT). Again yelled "(EDIT)" and told the other accused, "today, you'll know what it feels like to (EDIT)".

Accused #2 came closer, (EDIT). (EDIT)

 

The judge asked Bonnette whether she wanted to continue, as she was very emotional.

She wanted to continue.

Bonnette was asked whether she knew if accused #2 (EDIT).

Bonnette: I don't know, I was confused.

Bonnette: Kotze stood next to me next to the bed, just holding the gun. Not aimed at anyone.

Bonnette: Accused #3 stood closer. (EDIT). Accused #3 (EDIT). "En Kotze het heeltyd herhaal… hoe hulle (EDIT)"

Bonnette: Accused #2 and #3… (EDIT). 

"Nommer 4 het… (EDIT)."

Bonnette: Kotze aimed the gun at me and again told me to lie still "anders skiet hy my dood"

Bonnette: Kotze put the gun back in the cupboard. Turned around and told the three black men to go to the other room. He took a small bottle out. I was bleeding badly. "(EDIT)".

Bonnette: Your honour, I started losing myself "dit was bitter seer". (EDIT).

Bonnette: He lay down next to me. Told me how much he loved me. How I destroyed his life. Then stood up and pointed the gun at my forehead. Told me when Conrad got there - he would bring him into the room.

 

 

Kotze was going to (EDIT), he would kill him. He told Bonnette she could be happy (EDIT). 

 

PART 3 with (EDIT)

Kotze went (EDIT). (EDIT) - while still having tape over her mouth and face.

 

Bonnette: Kotze dressed me. (EDIT).

 

Bonnette: I heard a motorcycle and asked the black man whether it was Conrad. He said it was. Kotze forced me to be quiet. Left the room and left the door slightly open.

Bonnette: I heard the footsteps. "En toe hoor ek my kind" 

Bonnette: And then I heard "nee Oom, moenie" and then a shot.

Again, Kotze cries. 

Bonnette: Again I heard "nee Oom asseblief moenie"… and another shot. And then another shot.

Kotze's sobs could be clearly heard in court.

Bonnette: There was a long silence. I was in so much pain. The more I struggled, the tighter the cable ties became.

Bonnette: It was quiet. And then I heard the voice of a neighbour asking "Ina, is jy okay?" She got into the room. I moved my foot for her to see that I was still alive. She started screaming and asked me where Kotze was. I said he was on his way to my father's house. He said he was going to go to my father's house to kill my parents.

 

 

Bonnette: I took the rest of my clothes and left the room.

Bonnette: I saw Conrad lying on the floor, kept yelling "Boeta, Boeta, Boeta"… but he didn't react.

Bonnette: I kneeled. And tried to pull my child up. I could no longer feel my hands (due to the cable ties).  I put my hands under Conrad and tried to pull him up again. It was wet. When I removed my hands, I saw it was blood. I saw a shot wound in his left knee and a mark on his left chest, "En ek het die bloed aan die agterkant gesien, maar ek weet nie waar die koeëltjie in was nie".

 

Bonnette: I realized there, Conrad was dead. I told Marinus we needed to get out of the house immediately, if Kotze found us here, he was going to kill us.

Bonnette: I lost balance on the way out and held onto the walls to stay up.

Bonnette: We were in the car and went to the police station. There they helped me. From there I went to the doctor.

 
PART 4 with (EDIT)

Bonnette: I went to the police station the next morning to file my affidavit. I started feeling terrible pains, and went to Pretoria, where I was in hospital for about 7-8 days.

Bonnette: Doctor said the implants had burst, and put new ones in. "Kotze het my liggaam so geskend, dat ek moes gaan vir her-operasies".

Kotze rested his face in his hands and looked uncomfortably around the dock after a few seconds.

Bonnette: Six weeks after the incident, I had pain. They realised I had broken ribs as well.

Bonnette: When Kotze told me to phone Conrad on the day of the incident, I phoned my parents. But it went to voicemail, as they didn't always have reception where they lived.

Bonnette: Kotze always used my phone to call my children. My logic just tells me that he had phoned my child on that day.

Bonnette: I was immediately placed on medication the next day. Antibiotics, as some of the wounds became septic.

Bonnette bowed down and started crying. She looked up at the ceiling… and then turned her gaze to Kotze.

STATE PROCEEDS TO EVIDENCE

Kotze put his glasses on again, picked up an A4 notepad, and started making notes once again (he stopped making notes once Ina got emotional)