‘Pure police investigation’ led to arrest

Another suspect in the “Modimolle Monster” case was arrested in a pre-dawn raid in Hammanskraal on Saturday.

This brings to four the number of men arrested in connection with the rape and attack on Ina Bonnette, and the murder of her 20-year-old son Conrad, who was made to beg for his life allegedly by his stepfather as his mother lay tied to a bed in the room next door.

Johan Kotze, Bonnette’s estranged husband, who allegedly orchestrated the attack, was arrested on Wednesday following a week-long manhunt.

On Saturday Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Malaudzi said the fourth suspect, a 30-year-old man, was arrested at his home in Lefahleng, Hammanskraal.

“Pure police investigation” had led to the arrest, Malaudzi added.

Kotze is alleged to have forced his three co-accused, whom he hired to work in his garden, to rape Bonnette while he mutilated her with pliers and other tools.

The fourth suspect will appear in the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, along with a man who was arrested on Friday. The two are expected to face similar charges to the 17 put to Kotze and his 42-year-old co-accused on Friday. These included conspiracy to rape, sexual assault, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Their case has been postponed to February 10.

Meanwhile, Sapa reports that National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said the media did not err in naming Kotze and publishing details of his alleged crime before his appearance in court.

The case had not been compromised “for prosecution at all”, because Kotze had been a fugitive for whom police were searching.

“The media naming him and publishing his photograph helped identify him.”

- Sunday Argus

• ‘How I found Modimolle monster’