Free State parolee wanted for rape and trafficking arrested in Theunissen

Parolee sought on trafficking and rape charges taken into custody

A 35-year-old Free State man who was wanted on charges including trafficking in persons and rape was arrested at the weekend and is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Hawks launched search after alleged offences

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, had been seeking the suspect, Gregony Deck, in connection with allegations of trafficking in persons, kidnapping and rape said to have been committed in Bloemfontein between 1 and 4 August 2026. The provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, Warrant Officer Fikiswa Matoti, said Deck fled before he could be apprehended at the time.

“Members of the Bloemfontein Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) received information on Friday, August 7, 2026, regarding the whereabouts of the suspect in Theunissen. Assisted by the Tactical Response Team, the information was operationalised, resulting in the suspect being traced and arrested at a house in Masilo, Theunissen,” Matoti said.

Parole history and court appearance

Further investigations, Matoti said, revealed that Deck had been released on parole on 28 July 2025 after a prior conviction for rape.

“Deck is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, for trafficking in persons, rape, and robbery,” Matoti said.

Separate Gauteng arrests after house robbery

In a separate incident, Gauteng police arrested three suspects in Rietfontein, Cullinan, after a house robbery on Saturday, August 8. It was reported that the suspects broke into the victim’s house, assaulted him and fled with household items, cellphones and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police, working with private security companies, traced and arrested the three suspects at Welbekend.