Free State Police Rescue Kidnapped Learner Kamogelo Baukudi, Six Arrested Including SAPS Officer

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has rescued 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, a Grade 11 learner from Martie du Plessis Special School in Bloemfontein, who was kidnapped on 5 June 2025.

- 

The coordinated rescue operation took place in Wepener on 27 June 2025, resulting in the arrest of six suspects, including a 42-year-old police sergeant. The abduction, which initially involved men posing as police officers, sent shockwaves through the Free State community and sparked a massive investigation. This remarkable outcome highlights the dedication of law enforcement and the power of public support in bringing Kamogelo home safely.

Kamogelo’s ordeal began on a quiet Thursday morning along Vereeniging Drive in Erlichpark Extension, Bloemfontein. He was being driven home from school by his caretaker, Daniel Malebatso, in a silver Suzuki Ertiga when they were stopped by two men in a white Toyota Hilux GD-6 double cab. One suspect wore a police uniform, complete with blue lights and a police-style radio, while the other was dressed in a blue tracksuit.

Claiming the vehicle was involved in drug trafficking, they separated Kamogelo from Malebatso, forcing the teen into their bakkie. As Malebatso was ordered to drive ahead towards Park Road Police Station, a truck swerved between them, obscuring his view, and the Hilux vanished with Kamogelo inside.

The aftermath revealed chilling clues. Both Kamogelo’s and Malebatso’s cellphones were found discarded under a bridge on Ferreira Road. During the encounter, one kidnapper, speaking fluent Sesotho, mentioned the name “Thipe,” a detail that would later prove vital. The incident, occurring just before midday at approximately 11:55, marked a bold daylight crime that left the community reeling and prompted immediate action from the authorities.

The Investigation: A Race Against Time