Man jailed for 15 years after kidnapping and extortion of two teenagers

A 45-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to abducting two teenagers and extorting their families. The sentence was handed down at the Pretoria High Court on 1 October 2026.

Sentence details

The man, identified in court as Boitumelo Bradly Bogatsu, was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count of kidnapping, 10 years on each count of extortion and five years for unlawful possession of a firearm. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, producing an effective term of 15 years’ direct imprisonment.

Kidnapping and ransom demands

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Bogatsu and co-accused allegedly abducted two teenagers a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy on 6 March 2024 near Central Combined School in Brits. The teenagers were reportedly driven to a house in Klipgat, where they were held.

After the abduction, Bogatsu called the parents of the 17-year-old and demanded R50 million, and called the parents of the 18-year-old and demanded R60 million. The NPA said he threatened that the teenagers would be killed or trafficked out of the country if the demands were not met.

Police response and court process

“Both families reported the kidnapping to the police on the same day. Following an investigation, the teenagers were found 20 days later on 26 March 2024 and reunited with their families. Bogatsu and his co-accused were arrested and have remained in custody since the NPA successfully opposed their release on bail,”

the NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said.

In court, Bogatsu pleaded guilty to the charges of kidnapping and extortion. The judge accepted his guilty plea, convicted him and imposed the sentence.

Co-accused and next steps

The State had separated Bogatsu’s case from that of his co-accused. The trial of the remaining accused is scheduled to take place in the Pretoria High Court from 26 April to 14 May 2027.