“He’s Safe Now”: Kamogelo Baukudi Rescued After 20 Days of Fear

A 20-day nightmare ends as a missing Free State teenager is reunited with family. But questions still linger.

Kamogelo Baukudi, a 19-year-old Grade 11 learner from the Free State, is finally safe after being found in the company of his alleged kidnappers on Friday morning. The rescue, which took place more than three weeks after his abduction, has left a community relieved, but also shaken.

Snatched by men posing as police officers

Kamogelo’s disappearance rocked the quiet corridors of his Bloemfontein school, where he was last seen walking home earlier this month. What made it worse? He wasn’t snatched by shadowy strangers in the dark. According to police reports, the two men who took him were pretending to be law enforcement officers.

His story soon made headlines. He wasn’t just another name in a missing persons bulletin—he became a symbol of growing unease about safety, trust in authorities, and how vulnerable our learners really are.

Rescued on the street: “He was walking with the kidnappers”

Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele described the dramatic moment officers found Kamogelo. It wasn’t some high-stakes house raid. It was stranger than that.

He was walking down a road in a local township, flanked by three of his alleged captors. “Three suspects were arrested on the spot,” Makhele said. “Two others were picked up at a nearby house. All five are now in custody, and Kamogelo is safe with a parent.”

Though he showed no visible injuries, he’s set to receive full medical evaluation. The trauma of being held captive for nearly three weeks is impossible to see at first glance.

“We never gave up hope”, A community’s plea was answered

Free State Education MEC Manthlake Julia Maboya had previously made emotional appeals to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward. “We were concerned and just wanted him back at school, with his family,” she said.

Her calls didn’t fall on deaf ears. Whether it was a tip-off or long-running police intel, the pressure to find Kamogelo mounted until it broke open the case.

The officer in the shadows: A deeper conspiracy?

What makes this case more chilling is the earlier arrest of 42-year-old Philemon Adoon, a police officer charged with Kamogelo’s kidnapping. He’s still awaiting a bail decision.

Now that five more suspects are in custody, investigators are digging into whether there are deeper connections between them and the officer.

Makhele confirmed interrogations are underway and said the suspects’ statements may “reveal if there are any links.”

What happens next?

For now, Kamogelo is safe and that’s what matters most. But South Africans watching this story unfold are left with more than a sense of relief. There’s also a bitter reminder: uniforms can’t always be trusted, and our systems of protection must be scrutinised.

On social media, reactions have been mixed. While some celebrate the rescue, others demand swift justice and reforms to stop impersonators and insiders from abusing public trust.

Kamogelo’s return may be the ending we hoped for, but the story is far from over.

If you have information about crimes involving impersonation or suspect human trafficking in your area, contact your local SAPS station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

{Source: IOL}

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