Kidnapped in Broad Daylight: Police Sergeant Detained in Kamogelo Baukudi Case

It was an ordinary Thursday in Vereeniging when 19-year-old Kamogelo Baukudi vanished without a trace—allegedly taken by men pretending to be police officers. Now, more than a week later, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State has made a major breakthrough. A 42-year-old real police sergeant has been taken in for questioning and is currently behind bars in Bloemfontein.

The chilling irony? The badge meant to protect may have been used to orchestrate this brazen kidnapping.

A Disappearance That Shook the Community

Kamogelo, a Grade 11 student at Marti Du Plessis School in Fitchardpark, was last seen just before noon, being picked up from school by a man known to her family, Daniel Malebatso. Their trip home was interrupted by a white Toyota Hilux bakkie, equipped with blue lights and what appeared to be a police radio.

What happened next feels like a movie plot—but for Kamogelo’s family, it’s an ongoing nightmare.

According to Malebatso, two men—one in a police uniform, the other in a tracksuit—claimed the Suzuki Ertiga they were driving was involved in drug deliveries. Using this fabricated excuse, they separated the two and instructed Malebatso to drive ahead to the Park Road police station, claiming they’d follow with Kamogelo.

Only they didn’t.

A truck slipped between the two vehicles, and the Hilux was never seen again.

A Crack in the Case: Police Officer Arrested

Brigadier Motantsi Makhele confirmed that a police sergeant has now been detained and is expected to appear in court soon. The arrest has added a disturbing twist to the story—suggesting that Kamogelo’s abductors may not have only been pretending to be cops.

“This investigation has entered a crucial phase,” said Free State Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane. “No SAPS member is above the law. If any are involved in this heinous act, they will be held accountable.”

A Name, a Language, and a Clue

Malebatso told investigators that one of the men spoke fluent Sesotho and mentioned the name “Thipe.” It’s unclear whether this was a slip-up or part of the ruse, but it’s one of the few concrete leads in a case clouded with fear, confusion and growing anger.

Both Kamogelo’s and Malebatso’s phones were later found dumped under a bridge on Ferrera Road—a move clearly meant to erase digital trails.

Public Reaction: Trust in SAPS Fracturing

The community’s reaction on social media has been a mix of outrage and heartbreak. Many are furious that police resources are stretched investigating their own ranks, while others feel betrayed.

“Who are we supposed to call if even the police are suspects?” read one widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter).

Parents are now second-guessing school pickups, while local neighbourhood groups are calling for tighter protocols around police identification and more visible accountability in SAPS.

The Bigger Picture: A System Under Scrutiny

This isn’t the first time police impersonators have made headlines—but the possibility of actual SAPS officers being involved sets off alarm bells about deeper corruption. The blue lights, the radio, the uniform—those aren’t props you pick up from a costume shop.

Was this a one-off crime or part of a bigger, darker pattern?

What Happens Next

As the detained officer awaits a court date, the search for Kamogelo continues. The task team assigned to the case remains active, but every day that passes without news adds weight to the fears of her family and the broader community.

Anyone with information is urged to come forward. A young woman’s life is hanging in the balance—and now, a nation is watching.

Fears Grow as Teen Kamogelo Baukudi Abducted by Fake Cops in Vereeniging

{Source: The Citizen}

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