Latest news with #Malebatso
The South African
18 hours ago
- The South African
Sergeant nabbed in connection with missing teen
A 42-year-old police sergeant has been arrested by the Bloemfontein South African Police Service, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi. The arrest comes four days after the teenager and grade 11 learner was reported missing. The Provincial Police Commissioner in the Free State, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, has vowed that SAPS will uncover the full truth behind the alleged kidnapping. Lieutenant General Motswenyane said, 'This investigation has now entered a crucial phase. The involvement of any SAPS member in criminal acts will not be tolerated. Culprits will be held accountable – even if they are within our own ranks.' The South African first broke the story of Baukudi on Friday, 6 June 2025. It had been just a few hours after he had been reported missing. Daniel Malebatso, who had fetched Baukudi from Marti Du Plessis School that day, told police that they were driving on Vereeniging Drive, near Erlichpark Extension, when they were stopped by police sirens. Malebatso alleged they were pulled over by a White Toyota Hilux GD-6 Double Cab. He told the police that he saw two unknown male persons inside the vehicle. Malebatso said one of the men was wearing a police uniform while the other wore blue tracksuits. When The South African first reported on the story, Malebatso claimed that the suspect who was wearing a police uniform said their vehicle was suspected of drug trafficking. He alleged that Baukudi was then taken into 'the police vehicle' by the other two officers. Malebatso alleged that the officers instructed him to drive in front of them as both vehicles convoyed en route to Park Road Police Station. 'Malebatso alleges that a truck went in-between the Suzuki he was driving and the Toyota Hilux and he never saw it again,' said national SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. The police found cellphones belonging to both Malebatso and Baukudi discarded under a bridge on Ferrera Road. The Parkweg Police Station has since opened a docket of kidnapping and impersonating the police. 'Kamogelo has not been seen since and the SAPS continues to prioritise his safe return as a matter of utmost urgency,' said Mathe. SAPS are pleading with anyone who might have information that can help locate Kamogelo Baukudi, to come forward. If you have any information, contact Captain Sabata Jafta Moseme at 082 5262 713. The information can also be submitted on MySAPS App or call the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111 as an alternative. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Police sergeant arrested in connection with kidnapping of Free State school pupil
Free State police have made a breakthrough in the case of 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi who was allegedly kidnapped by two men posing as police officers on Thursday. According to the police, a 42-year-old police sergeant has been arrested and detained in Bloemfontein in connection with the kidnapping. He is expected to appear in court soon. Free State police commissioner Lt-Gen Baile Motswenyane said the investigation has now entered a crucial phase. 'The involvement of any SAPS member in criminal acts will not be tolerated. Culprits will be held accountable — even if they are within our own ranks,' said Motswenyane. According to a TimesLIVE report, the complainant, Daniel Malebatso, allegedly arrived at Martie du Plessis Special School in Fichardt Park as usual to fetch Baukudi, a grade 11 pupil at the school. Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said the two left the school premises with Baukudi driving the Suzuki Ertiga. While driving on Vereeniging Drive in Ehrlich Park, Malebatso alleged they heard a siren sound from behind and were pulled over by occupants in a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab. Covane said inside the Toyota Hilux, there were two unknown men, one wearing a police uniform and the other a blue tracksuit. The suspects' bakkie was allegedly fitted with blue lights on the grill and what appeared to be a police radio inside. Covane said the suspect wearing a police uniform told Malebatso the Suzuki Ertiga they were driving was suspected of delivering drugs. The suspects then allegedly separated Baukudi and Malebatso and instructed Malebatso to drive his vehicle in front while they followed to the Park Road police station. 'The two vehicles turned back and drove in a westerly direction on Vereeniging Drive. Malebatso alleged a truck moved in between the two vehicles and he did not see the Hilux again. He said one suspect was speaking Sesotho fluently and mentioned the name 'Thipe'. Cellphones belonging to Baukudi and Malebatso were found under a bridge on Ferreira Road.'
The South African
4 days ago
- The South African
Bloem teenager allegedly taken by unknown men in SAPS uniform
Police in Bloemfontein are searching for 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, who was allegedly kidnapped by two men impersonating officers on Thursday afternoon. He was immediately reported missing. 'The complainant, Daniel Malebatso, arrived at Marti Du Plessis School in Fitchardpark as usual, to fetch Baukudi who is a Grade 11 learner at the school,' said SAPS national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. According to Mathe, Malebatso left the school with the teenager and they were driving in a Suzuki Ertiga. Malebatso said while driving on Vereeniging Drive near Erlichpark Extension, they suddenly heard a siren going off behind them. He said they were pulled over by a White Toyota Hilux GD-6 Double Cab. He alleges that he saw two male persons inside the vehicle and insists that their identities are unknown to him. However he said that one of the men was wearing a police uniform while the other wore blue tracksuits. 'According to the complainant, the suspects bakkie was fitted with blue lights on the grill and what looked like a police radio inside,' said Mathe. According to Malebatso, the suspect who was wearing a police uniform confronted him and informed him that the vehicle they were driving in was suspected of drug trafficking. He alleges the two 'officers' then separated him from Baukudi. Malebatso claims he was instructed to drive in front of the 'police vehicle', while they followed behind him en route to Park Road Police Station. 'Both vehicles turned back and drove in westerly direction in Vereeniging Drive. Malebatso alleges that a truck went in-between the Suzuki he was driving and the Toyota Hilux and he never saw it again,' said Mathe. 'Malebatso recalls that one of the suspects was speaking Sesotho fluently and even mentioned the name 'Thipe',' said Mathe She said the cellphones belonging to both Malebatso and Baukudi were found under the bridge on Ferrera Road. A case of kidnapping and impersonating the police has since been opened at Parkweg Police Station. Police are pleading with anyone who might have information that can help locate Kamogelo Baukudi, to come forward. If you have any information, contact Captain Sabata Jafta Moseme at 082 5262 713. Alternatively the information can be submitted on MySAPS App or call the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Police launch manhunt after school pupil ‘kidnapped by fake cops'
The police's task team in Bloemfontein, Free State is searching for 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, who was allegedly kidnapped by two men impersonating police on Thursday. According to police, the complainant, Daniel Malebatso, arrived at Marti Du Plessis School in Fitchardpark as usual to fetch Baukudi, who is a grade 11 pupil at the school. "The two left the school premises with Baukudi driving the Suzuki Ertiga," said provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane. While driving on Vereeniging Drive Erlichpark in Extension, Malebatso alleged they heard a siren sound from behind and were pulled over by occupants in a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab. "Inside the Toyota Hilux, there were two unknown male persons, one wearing a police uniform and the other a blue tracksuit," said Covane. The suspects' bakkie was allegedly fitted with blue lights on the grill and what appeared to be a police radio inside. Covane said the suspect wearing a police uniform told Malebatso the Suzuki Ertiga they were driving was suspected of delivering drugs. He said the suspects then allegedly separated Baukudi and Malebatso and instructed Malebatso to drive at the front while they followed from behind to the Park Road police station. "The two vehicles turned back and drove in a westerly direction on Vereeniging Drive. Malebatso alleged a truck moved in between the two vehicles and he did not see the the Hilux again. "He said one suspect was speaking Sesotho fluently and mentioned the name 'Thipe'. Cellphones belonging to Baukudi and Malebatso were found under a bridge on Ferrera Road." A case of kidnapping and impersonating police was opened at the Parkweg police station. Any member of the public who might have information that can help the police find Baukudi and might have seen the vehicles while on Vereeniging Drive is requested to contact Capt Sabata Jafta Moseme at 082 5262 713. Alternatively, the information can be submitted on the MySAPS App or call the SAPS Crime Stop number 08600 10111.
