Police reflector jackets, a fake arrest: couple kidnapped and extorted in Botshabelo as ex-sergeant is held

A former South African Police Service sergeant has been arrested for kidnapping, extortion, impersonating police officials and theft of a motor vehicle after an intelligence-led operation in Botshabelo in the Free State, SAPS said in a media statement issued through the Office of the Provincial Commissioner.

The kidnapping happened on Friday 23 October 2026 at about 23:30. According to the SAPS report, a group of suspects, some wearing police reflector jackets and impersonating police officials, entered a house in A-Section, Botshabelo. They took a couple from the house under the pretext that the two were being arrested. The victims were blindfolded and driven away in a white VW Polo Vivo. Their grey Toyota Corolla was also taken and driven to an unknown address.

The next day, 24 October, the victims’ family members were alerted by the couple’s bank about suspicious withdrawals of large amounts from the account, and that the victims could not be reached by phone to confirm the transactions. When the family did reach them, the victims said under duress that they were relaxing at a hotel in Bloemfontein and would return on Sunday.

The suspects released the victims on the Sunday. They did not report the crime, SAPS says, because the suspects threatened to kill them and their family members if they did. An undisclosed amount of money was extorted from the couple. The case was opened only on Monday 26 October 2026 at Botshabelo SAPS.

That same morning, at about 09:30, Provincial Crime Intelligence members shared information with the Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit. Evaton SAPS had phoned asking for help identifying the owner of a cellphone number, a person reported to be from Botshabelo who was communicating with someone who had flagged suspicious deposits into his bank account at Evaton SAPS. The Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre tasked Selosesha Crime Intelligence to trace the number.

The owner was identified as a 33-year-old former sergeant who had been stationed at Tweespruit SAPS and resigned in April 2026 after being arrested for business robbery at a chain store in Ladybrand. His white VW Golf 6 was also identified, and it was established that he was going to drive out of Botshabelo towards Bloemfontein.

A joint operation by the Mangaung Metro Operational Command Centre Crime Combating Unit, Provincial Counter Intelligence and Selosesha Crime Intelligence followed, and the suspect was arrested near the mall. When interviewed, SAPS says, it was positively confirmed that the cellphone number belonged to him.

He was arrested on the four counts and detained in police cells. Two cellphones were handed in at the Botshabelo Evidence Management System, a blue Samsung A06 valued at R8 999-00 and a blue Itel cellphone valued at R300-00. SAPS also established that the suspect was still on bail of R10 000-00 for the Ladybrand business robbery.

He is expected to appear before the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court soon. SAPS has not given a date.

Enquiries on the case are directed to Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane. The statement is a summary of the police account rather than the case docket, and the charges against the suspect have not been tested in court.

The full SAPS statement is available at https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72201.