How Ina Bonnette inspires Juanita du Plessis
Love is like a war: Easy to start, hard to end, impossible to forget…
On 3 January 2012, Ina Bonnette's life changed forever.
Johan Kotzé, Andries Sithole, Pieta Mohlake, and Sello Mphaka attacked and tortured Ina in Kotze's Modimolle home and shot and killed her son in the house on the same day..
The so-called "Modimolle Monster" and all co-accused were found guilty of kidnapping and the gang rape of Ina Bonette and Kotzé and co-accused Andries Sithole were found guilty of the murder of Bonnette's son, Conrad in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on 15 July 2013.
Today Ina Bonnette is a symbol of strength and survival and lives to spread a message of hope, healing and triumph through motivational talks where she reminds people that we all have a choice to stand up, face the world and survive.
On the 3 year anniversary of her son Conrad’s burial, she joined The Complimentary Breakfast in studio to tell her story.
Listen to the 3 part interview that will leave you feeling inspired here:
Part 1: Tel op jou oë, op na bo
Despite being repeatedly told by Kotze "when I’m done with a women, she will be institutionalised or commit suicide", Ina decided right then and there that she will survive this ordeal. In the first part of her chat with Rian, she recalls this moment, talks about being on the road to recovery and receives a special message from Juanita du Plessis.
Part 2: The face with a silver lining
After having gone through one of the most traumatic experiences imaginable, Ina was mocked and ridiculed by the public, with some being vocal about the fact that “she deserved what happened to her.” On her road to healing, she shares how she dealt with the negativity, what she felt the moment Judge Bert Bam sentenced Kotze to life imprisonment and the silver lining that changed her life.
In March, 2013 Ina had a life changing experience. While taking photos of her surroundings on a farm, she found herself having an argument with God. Plagued by questions of why (Why me? Why Conrad? Why am I being haunted by images of my son from that day?), she prayed to have the image of Conrad’s smiling face back in her dreams. At that moment she felt a cool breeze wash over her and the words "open your eyes and look up" echoed in her mind. Ina saw her child's face in the clouds and treasured the sight as a sign from God that everything is going to be okay... At that moment she found peace.
Part 3: She still cannot say his name...
The night of her marriage, Kotze presented Ina with a set of rules which included an appointment would be required in order for her parents to visit her and from that day onwards, her children were no longer allowed to ask her for anything as he was to have the final say. This was the moment she realised that Kotze is not who he seems to be…
In the final part of Rian’s chat to Ina Bonnette, she explains why she battles to utter the words "Johan", explains what happened when she was finally rescued and pays tribute to her son Conrad on the three year anniversary of his funeral.
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