Central SA
No link between five suspects and kidnapping of Bloemfontein teenager─── ZENANDE MPAME 10:35 Tue, 01 Jul 2025
A case against the five suspects arrested in connection with the kidnapping and extortion of the Martie du Plessis learner will not be enrolled or registered with the court, as there is no link between the suspects and the crime.
The suspects, aged 20 to 29, were meant to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday (30/6) on charges of kidnapping and extortion.
Three were apprehended at a house in Kanana, Wepener, while two others were caught on the road between Kwetla and Wepener with the alleged victim, Kamogelo Baukudi, in their company.
Sgt. Nzima Adoons will again appear in the same court on Thursday (3/6) for a further bail hearing. He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
“The matter against the five suspects will not be enrolled as the investigations are ongoing,” said Free State NPA spokesperson, Mojalefa Senokoatsane. The court could not enrol the matter because there is no link between the suspects and the crime.
“Meanwhile, the bail application of the police officer has been postponed to Thursday for a further bail hearing.”
Adoons testified on Monday, denying knowing Baukudi, his family, or anything else related to the kidnapping. He also mentioned that on the day of the kidnapping, he drove around the city in an unmarked vehicle and passed by the area where Baukudi was kidnapped.
It was also explained to him by Mangaung Metro District Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Arthur Peter Adams, that he was positively linked to the kidnapping because of the vehicle tracker that showed that it was on the scene on the day of the kidnapping.
An identity parade was also done on Sunday, 8 June. “I wasn’t pointed out at the identity parade. I don’t know the victim, his family, or about the extortion amount that was demanded from the family.”
Baukudi was found alive in Wepener on Friday (27/6), 20 days after his kidnapping, following a coordinated rescue operation under Adams’ leadership. A ransom of R7 million was demanded from his family for his release.
Adv. Jacques Potgieter from Adriaan Janse van Rensburg represented Adoons after the charge sheet had been amended by the state on Sunday, 22 June. The amendment reclassified the bail application from a schedule 1 to a schedule 5 case.
