Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae congratulates members of the South African Police Service for the safe rescue of Kamogelo Baukudi in the early hours of Friday, 27 June 2025.
The 19-year-old Grade 11 pupil at Martie du Plessis High School was abducted on 5 June 2025 while being driven home from school. Following his abduction, police launched a massive manhunt which led to the arrest of a police officer who was charged with kidnapping and extortion.
In the early hours of Friday, 27 June 2025, police were led to Wepener where Kamogelo was found unharmed. Five suspects, aged between 20 and 29, were arrested, bringing the total number of suspects to six.
Premier Letsoha-Mathae has thanked members of the police who have been working around the clock to bring Baukudi safely home. She said the rescue of Baukudi was a demonstration of their meticulous work and dedication to bringing a peaceful ending to a rather worrying incident.
The Premier also said she was mortified to learn that some of the suspects were almost the same age as Baukudi. She said this was a worrying indication of the prevalence of crime in the province, but added that the police were equal to the task of stopping criminals in their tracks.
Premier Letsoha-Mathae said she was always optimistic that the young man would be alive, owing it to paternal instincts.
The Premier further appealed to the public to allow the police space to complete their investigation to determine what happened, and to ensure the successful prosecution of the suspects.
“We are all incredibly relieved that Kamogelo Baukudi has been found unharmed. We thank the South African Police Service, under the capable leadership of Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, for a job well done. The boy has been reunited with his family and we hope that he will quickly put this incident behind him and continue with his studies,” Premier Letsoha-Mathae said.