Kamogelo Baukudi, 19, a Grade 11 learner from Martie du Plessis Special Needs School, has been found alive and safely rescued by police in the Free State. Image: SAPS.
(The Post News)– Nineteen-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi, a Grade 11 learner from Martie du Plessis Special Needs School, has been found alive in Wepener, Free State, more than 20 days after his distressing kidnapping. His rescue in the early hours of Friday morning brings immense relief to his family and the community who tirelessly hoped for his safe return.
Kamogelo’s ordeal began on June 5th when he was abducted while being driven home from school. His mother later received a harrowing call from the suspects, who demanded a ransom for his return. While the exact amount of the ransom hasn’t been disclosed, the demand for money underscored the severe nature of his abduction.
Following an intensive investigation, police swiftly located and rescued Kamogelo. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele confirmed the successful operation, stating that five additional suspects were arrested during the rescue. “We can confirm that we embarked on an operation this morning in an area where our intelligence-driven information took us. That is where we managed to arrest five suspects,” Makhele said. Three of the suspects were found with Kamogelo on a road in a township, while the other two were apprehended at a house in the same area. All five are currently being processed at the Wepener police station.
Kamogelo appeared unharmed during the rescue, with Brigadier Makhele noting that police “did not observe any visible injuries on the teenager”. However, he will undergo medical treatment to ensure his complete well-being after this traumatic experience.
This breakthrough brings the total number of arrests in the case to six. Previously, Philemon Adoons, a 42-year-old police officer, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in connection with Kamogelo’s kidnapping and the ransom demand. Brigadier Makhele stated that police interrogations of the newly arrested suspects would determine if there are any links to Adoons.
The Free State Education MEC, Manthlake Julia Maboya, had previously made heartfelt public appeals for assistance in locating Kamogelo, reflecting the widespread concern for his safety. His return represents a significant moment of relief and hope. The six suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
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