Boeta (Gerhard) Basson is an old friend of mine, we’ve known each other since kindergarden, we were boyfriend and girlfriend in primary school (it was a “kys” – you know, where you barely ever talked to each other, the boy buys you chocolates and presents and gives you a card with a teddy on your birthday, but NEVER do you really even make eye contact – yes thats the one). We lived on the farm next to the Basson family about 20 km from a small town called Komatipoort, it lies on the border of Mozambique and Swaziland, it is green and the people are friendly, it is the place where you know everyone by name. Boeta is a banana & sugar cane farmer for Inyoni, their family business.
On 23 April I road out to Boeta’s house on his farm, it’s a good half an hours ride, (my parents now live in Malelane), I was doing a engagement session for Boeta and Malenke. I got there at 15h30, Malenke was make-upped by Nadie, and we looked at what the two of them were going to wear. Boeta was on the farm busy getting a tractor out of a ditch, he came home a little later all dirty and full of mud, he took a shower and we started shooting (it feels wrong using the word shoot). It was such a great session, we laughed and made stupid jokes and talked about when we were little kids and everyday life, we had a lot of fun and I was really glad to see that Boeta didn’t moan once about being photographed – this is very uncommon among South African guys, I’m sure Malenke had something to do with it ;). Malenke is also from Komati, she is a little shy, but once you get to know her she is the sweetest thing, she always has a smile on her face. I am so glad you two found each other, I dont even need to say how apparent your love is for each other as the pictures will tell the story, Boeta has been waiting for Malenke all his life.
After we finished the shoot I told Boeta and Malenka to be safe, South Africa is getting more dangerous by the second, and on a farm its a 100 times worse. But as South Africans we are most of the time prepared for the worst. Boeta has a 3meter wall around his house, a security gate and camera to see who is at the gate, you would think he is as safe as safe can be. I left at about 18h00, the sun already set, but it wasn’t completely dark. Boeta went with Malenke back to Komati, he returned home at around 21h30…I received a text message from a friend at 22h00: Boeta Basson was shot on his farm tonight, chest wound, on his way to Nelspruit, please pray! I was horrified, that something this bad can happen to someone I know and worse to someone I just saw.
The Story:
As he arrived he was ambushed and shot at, six shots where fired – one hit him, after quick thinking he drove through his wall to get as far away from the armed men as possible, the car however could not start again after the hit, he struggled to get out of the car and escaped through the window, he then ran into the banana plantations for about 2km, to his workers compound. They wrapped him up in blankets and called for help. Boeta was stabilized in Komati and then rushed to Nelspruit’s Hospital. The bullet went through his lung and stopped 2 cm from his heart – he was in ICU for a couple of days, the doctors wanted to operate, but decided to let his lung recover first then they can remove the bullet later.
He will be going in for his operation on 27 May 2010. You will be in my prayers Boeta, I know you will get through this. Boeta has such a soft heart and gentle soul, like my best friend, Sharon – also a good friend of Boeta’s – said; “he wouldn’t hurt a fly “. Boeta is doing very well, he is walking around and working on the farm again.
show hide 8 comments