SOUTH AFRICA- In a dramatic rescue operation this morning, 19-year-old Bloemfontein teenager Kamogelo Baukudi was found alive in Wepener, Free State, more than three weeks after his kidnapping. Five men were arrested during the police operation, with authorities continuing to investigate the case.

Baukudi, a Grade 11 learner at a school for children with special needs, was abducted by two men posing as police officers while on his way home. The suspects were apprehended in Kanana township, with three caught on the road between Kwetla and Wepener, where Baukudi was found in their vehicle. Two others were arrested at a house in the same township.

Free State Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Baile Motswenyane commended the officers for their relentless efforts. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele confirmed that Baukudi showed no visible injuries but will undergo medical evaluation to ensure his well-being. “He is safe with a parent,” Makhele said.

The arrests add to a 42-year-old police sergeant, Philemon Adoon, already in custody and charged with kidnapping and extortion in connection to the case. Police are interrogating the five new suspects to determine any links with Adoon. The group is expected to appear in court on Monday, 30 June 2025.

The kidnapping had gripped the Free State community, prompting appeals from Free State Education MEC Manthlake Julia Maboya for public assistance in locating Baukudi. “We’re relieved he’s safe and urge continued cooperation with police to ensure justice,” Maboya said.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full details of the abduction.