Free State cops hailed for tracking down thieves, kidnappers over weekend

Police in Free State received hails and applauds for their successful crime prevention operation in high intense crime spots areas in Welkom and Botshabelo.

Close to 10 suspects spent the weekend behind bars for their crime related matters and are soon to appear before distinguished court rooms for their involvement.

In Welkom, four suspects were apprehended for being in possession of copper cables.

This comes after a suspicious VW vehicle was spotted near Bongani Hospital intersection on Friday, March 17 by police officers when they were on foot with their crime prevention order.

According to Lejweleputswa police spokesperson, captain Stephen Thakeng, the police followed the vehicle towards Mothusi road, the driver sped off when they flagged him off.

Public Order Police unit members chased the vehicle and managed to catch it near Vuyo Charles Stadium.

In order to conduct a search, the occupants of the vehicle were ordered to disembark.

Upon searching a red Golf with Free State registration numbers, the SAPS discovered copper cables and eight copper sheet weighing 131, 5 kg inside the boot and on the rear seat.

The occupants of the vehicle failed to provide the SAPS members with proper documents for the possession of the copper cables in question.

There were four suspects arrested for suspected possession of stolen copper cable. Their ages ranged from 28, 29, 36, and 38.

Brigader Mzondi Mojafi, the acting district commissioner of Lejweleputswa, praised members of Welkom POP for their vigilante efforts that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the copper cable.

In Botshabelo, two female suspects, aged 35 and 51, were detained on Friday, March 17 by the local authorities in
Botshabelo on charges of fraud and illegal adoption.

A Lesotho national and a South African, allegedly went to Botshabelo Home Affairs to submit late registration applications for two kids, aged five and fifteen.

While assisting them, a Home Affairs representative became suspicious and immediately alerted the police.

A preliminary inquiry was carried out, according to Botshabelo’s SAPS warrant officer Fikiswa Matoti, and it was discovered that a Department of Health official is allegedly recruiting foreign nationals to adopt children in an illegal manner.

The hired woman would identify children and persuade their parents to grant their permission in exchange for a financial reward.

She would then take the kids to a Home Affairs representative so they could be registered.

The suspects would subsequently register the kids for SASSA grants and split the money. For further inquiry, the case was handed over to the Hawks’ Serious Organized Crime investigation in Bloemfontein.

On Saturday, March 18, two additional suspects, aged29 and 59, who are thought to be the parents of the alleged children, were also apprehended.

More arrests are imminent. The four suspects will appeared before the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court today, 20 March on charges of illegal adoption and fraud.