The State Prosecutor told the Magistrate that a charge of kidnapping has been added to the docket. This means that the suspects now face three charges including murder, kidnapping, and defeating the ends of justice. 

This week OFM News' Corn Koteli reported that nine suspects were nabbed by the police after a body of a teen, who was previously reported as missing, was dug up outside Wepener. The state alleges that the 18-year-old whose body was retrieved on Tuesday outside Wepener, was kidnapped, murdered, and then buried after an act of vigilantism by suspects in question.

OFM News previously reported that according to the Free State police spokesperson, Thabo Covane, the body which was dug up by police is believed to be of one of the three African males that were kidnapped and assaulted by a group of people at the Caledon River on the Jammerdrift Farm on 24 September 2021.

Of the three African males, only two were returned to their homes and the third one was last seen at the river, lying motionless.

Covane previously explained the kidnapping is what can be regarded as an act of vigilantism, as the three victims were allegedly accused of committing robberies at foreign-owned stores in Qibing. A case of kidnapping and assault was opened at the Wepener Police Station and four suspects were arrested after two of the three victims were returned to their homes. In addition, a missing person docket was opened after one of the three victims did not arrive home.

On Thursday morning, a group of irate residents, including local businesses, came out in their numbers to support the suspects. They accuse the police of failing to deal with the increasing rate of crime in the area.

OFM News