By Teboho Moloi
BLOEMFONTEIN – The South African Funeral Practitioners Association (SAFPA) has welcomed the recovery of a Grade 11 learner from Martie du Plessis School, Kamogelo Baukudi (19), who was kidnapped earlier this month.
More arrests were made by police on Friday, 27 June.
SAFPA had appealed to the police to speed up its investigation to find Kamogelo and the suspects.
SAFPA Free State Chairperson Thite Titi thanked the police for what he referred to as the quick recovery of the learner.
Kamogelo was abducted on Thursday, 5 June, while being driven home from school in Verneeniging Drive, Bloemfontein. One suspect, a police sergeant, was arrested.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, Kamogelo was found alive in Wepener following a coordinated rescue operation that led to five more suspects being arrested.
“Five males aged between 20 and 29 were arrested. Three were arrested at a house in Kanana Location, Wepener, while two others were arrested on the road between Kwetla Location and Wepener town — with the learner in their possession,” said Makhele.
Titi thanked the police for the arrests and for bringing Kamogelo back home.
“We are going to court on Monday to appeal to the NPA that all suspects must not be granted bail. We want justice to be served,” said Titi.
All six suspects are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
