Love Is War: The Modimolle monster

Young mother Surinda du Preez stood transfixed, barely able to breathe. A single thought went through her head: I’m looking at the devil. She was staring straight into the eyes of a man whose alleged crimes had earned him the title: Modimolle monster. She was staring at Johan Kotze. It was 10 January 2012. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this, that a person can do this to another human being.’ – Renier van Rooyen, prosecutor. 3 January 2012 is a day the community of Modimolle in Limpopo, South Africa will never forget. On this day, Johan Kotze did the unthinkable. Kotze not only orchestrated the gang rape of his wife, before torturing her, but also murdered her nineteen-year-old son. His unthinkable actions earned him the name Modimolle monster, and have made him infamous. Love is War tells the sobering story of the workings of a twisted mind, and the weighty consequences of actions. Maughan takes a walk on the macabre side, through an in-depth analysis of Kotze’s story. From his life before the horrific events, to coverage of the trial, Maughan leaves nothing uncovered. While the trial continues, and the authorities try to ascertain whether or not Kotze is sane, his now ex-wife tries to deal with the fragile remains of her life, and South Africa holds its breath in the hopes that justice will be served in what is certainly the most talked-about case of the year.