Pretoria - Torture victim Ina Bonnette was questioned about a “shiny object” which she testified was one of the “tools of torture” used by her then estranged husband Johan Kotze.
On Wednesday, it was revealed to be a vibrator named “Blink Stefaans” - apparently by Kotze.
Describing to the Pretoria High Court the agony, she had endured at the hands of Kotze, Bonnette said a “shiny object” was used to penetrate her anally.
She testified that Kotze made violent motions with the object, which during her evidence she could describe only as “a shiny object”.
Questioned by Kotze’s counsel, advocate Bernard Bandjes, about the object, Bonnette said she had no idea that it was a vibrator. “I only know he at the time referred to it as Blink Stefaans.”
Bandjes said: “According to my instructions it is a vibrator which you bought long before this incident, and you named it Blink Stefaans.”
Bonnette, however, said she had never purchased “such an item”.
The court also heard that although the two of them divorced earlier this year, they lived together only for a short time, as Bonnette left their home twice since their marriage in October 2010. She said Kotze made her lose her self-respect and he took away her identity.
She still loved him when she finally moved out in July last year, but realised she could not reconcile with him.
The last straw, Bonnette said, was when Kotze, during a weekend away, told her: “Ounooi, you must love me because I am dying. I have leukaemia.” She later established this was a lie.
The court also heard that Kotze obtained a protection order against Bonnette a day after she had punched him on the jaw with her fist.
She admitted that she did this, but said she was livid at the time as he had badmouthed her and her children. “Your honour, I just lost myself that night.”
Bonnette said Kotze was never aggressive during their marriage, nor did he abuse her. This was why she trusted him when he called her to his house on that fateful day.
Bandjes said the stormy relationship between the two was terribly upsetting to Kotze. “He said the two of you still loved each other, but you could not get along. According to him this made him extremely emotional.”
Meanwhile, Wednesday had its fair share of drama in court. This time the interpreter alerted the judge that accused Andries Sithole “appeared to be sleeping in the dock” while evidence was being presented. “I see he is busy falling asleep,” the interpreter said.
Sithole then appeared to be wide awake and shook his head. Judge Bert Bam remarked that if he wanted to sleep, he [the judge] could not prevent him. He suggested the accused stand up if he felt sleepy. His advocate, following a short exchange with his client, said Sithole had a headache.
Pretoria News