Northern Cape
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WEDNESDAY 17 APRIL 2013
WWW.EXPRESSNEWS.CO.ZA
Back from the dead
} Boipelo Mere
THERE was a knock at the door. Neo Isaac Bulling almost gave his mom a heart attack when he suddenly appeared in front of her when she opened the front door. Ruth Motsamai said she almost suffered a stroke and had to go to the doctor after seeing her son alive on 21 March. “I thought I was dreaming because I had prepared myself to one day see my son’s face in the newspaper amongst the unknown dead,” she said. Ruth thought her son was dead after his disappearance on 30 December 2012 as they were unsuccessful in finding him at any of the government institutions in the various provinces. Baratang Bulling, his elder sister, was the last one who heard from him on the night he had called her to inform her that he was in danger. Northern Cape Express published an article with his sister’s plea for him to return home. The family remained glued to newspapers and news channels, visited hospital mortuaries and police stations in different provinces in search of Neo. They became even more concerned when they read an article in one of the newspapers that exposed funeral undertakers who killed the ill in order to create business. Neo revealed that he had been admitted to the Leratong Hospital, Kagiso, Krugersdorp, and that he had been unconscious the whole time.
He described how a taxi from Johannesburg had dropped him off in Krugersdorp while he was on his way home from visiting Lynette Mokae, his girlfriend and the mother of their two children. He said there had been no taxis coming to Kimberley, therefore his determination to reach home had made him decide to catch a local taxi to Krugersdorp as he had been convinced that he would find transport along the way. The last thing he could remember was being attacked by four men in Krugersdorp. “I remember hiking at night in Krugersdorp, trying to get to the N12. I was alone in the vicinity when a white car stopped in front of me. It seemed strange to me that when I approached the car the driver got out and walked straight towards me in the middle of the night,” said Neo. Neo said that the driver, whom he could still identify, had pulled out a knife and had tried to stab him. But I retreated and that was when he tore my shirt. While fighting off my attacker I realised that there were three other men approaching me from behind. The last thing I heard, was the thud of someone hitting me with a heavy object. I felt the effect on my neck and spine, and then it went dark,” Neo said. “At one time I heard a woman screaming ‘ba bolaile ngwana wa batho (they killed him)’,” said Neo. According to Neo, he regained consciousness in a hospital bed at the Leratong Hospital. “When I asked the nurse how
THE Express Group of newspapers, which includes Express Northern Cape, is now online at www.express-news.co.za Not only can readers now read the physical copy of the newspaper, you can also page through your favourite newspaper online. Readers can now be a part of the
growing interactive Express Nothern Cape online community. A page version of the newspaper will appear every Wednesday on the website and will keep you updated with the latest in news, sport and photos to keep you up to date with the latest happenings in your area.
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A WARM WELCOME: Neo Bulling surrounded by his loved ones Lynette Mokae (left), his mother, Ruth Motsamai (right), and the couple’s children, Bontle Mokae (2) and Pelontle Mokae (10 months). Photo: Boipelo Mere
long I had been in hospital, she responded, ‘wa re malatsi, ga o re dikgwedi’,” Neo said with humour. He further explained how one of the hospital cleaners had agreed to sign him out of the hospital, organised him a lift to Kimberley and gave him taxi fare. “On arrival in Kimberley I was still confused and did not recognise anything. I decided not to catch a taxi in fear of not knowing where to get off and instead just walked home. I do not know how, but I found myself in my yard,” he said.
Lynette said she was happy and relieved that her boyfriend was back. After Neo’s disappearance she came to Kimberley and stayed with his relatives, where she also suffered accusations from some of the family members that she was the cause of his disappearance. “I am so relieved as I felt guilty and stressed. I was always crying and blaming myself for allowing him to leave Johannesburg when it was already late,” said Lynette shyly. Neo said people in the street still
gave him strange looks because they thought they were seeing a ghost. “Some even ask if it is really me,” he said and laughed. He is still undergoing regular treatment for his neck and spinal cord injuries. “Although it is a concern for the family, we trust that God gave him a second chance and will look after him as he did not completely lose his job at the Kathu mines. He was transferred to Rustenburg,” said Ruth who tried to put on a brave face.
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Northern Cape
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Editor
Boipelo Mere
Sales Manager Johan Rossouw