By: Neo Ntsele The police in Zastron are seeking help from the community to locate three unidentified robbery suspects. It is reported that on Saturday, 5 September 2026, around 19:55, a 27-year-old woman was working as a cashier at a cafe on Matthey Street, Zastron. She claims she was managing the till's float when an African male suddenly approached the counter with a firearm. He demanded that she hand over the money from her till and instructed her to remain quiet. The wom

SAPS Free State Provincial Office By: Neo Ntsele On 1 September 2026, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State Province unveiled the provincial crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year and the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year. The statistics were revealed at the SAPS Free State Provincial Office in Bloemfontein by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, alongside the Office of the MEC for Community

Wanted suspect By: Staff Reporter Police in the Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Bethlehem, are searching for a suspect linked to a robbery and fraud incident at Sechaba Mall. The victim reported that as he was about to withdraw cash from an ATM, he felt a sharp object pressed against his back. An unidentified African male then grabbed the victim’s bank card and fled. An undisclosed sum of money was later withdrawn from the victim’s account. A case docket was filed, and a composi

Trio Arrested for drug dealings By: Staff Reporter Three individuals, two men aged 42 and 60 and a woman aged 42, are set to appear for the first time in the Zastron Magistrates Court on charges of alleged drug dealing. They were apprehended early this morning, Wednesday, 26 August 2026, by a multidisciplinary team including the Hawks, Tactical Response Team (TRT), and Crime Intelligence (CI) during an operation named Operation Diamond. CI members identified the group in 2025

Sephokong Mountain By: Neo Ntsele The bodies of two men, Sello Khala and Fana Nale, who were reported missing from Lusaka Village in Qwaqwa, have been found on the top of Sephokong Mountain after a thorough search and rescue operation. The two men disappeared on Sunday, 9 August 2026, after going on a hunting trip at Hatsoanyana Farm with friends. While crossing Sephokong Mountain, the group got separated due to thick, misty weather. One friend managed to find his way back ho

By: Neo Ntsele The Free State Provincial Tracking Team has successfully captured a suspect long sought after in connection with a 2009 rape case, following a focused intelligence-driven Operation Shanela II. On Tuesday night, 18 August 2026, at around 20:30, members of the Provincial Tracking Team acted on reliable information about the suspect's location. Members strategically approached and arrested 38-year-old Tshediso Emmanuel Makamole in Phase 10, Mangaung, concluding hi

By: Neo Ntsele A 50-year-old man is set to appear in the Zastron Magistrate's Court following his arrest for allegedly raping his wife at their home in Refeng-kgotso, Zastron. ​According to police, the 54-year-old victim—a practicing Sangoma—was attending to clients at around 02:00 on Friday, 14 August 2026, when her husband demanded intimacy. When she refused due to her work, the suspect forcibly dragged her into a bedroom, stripped both of them, and assaulted her without he

By: Neo Ntsele Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) at Jacobsdal Police Station were alerted to a hostage situation on Moabi Street, Ratanang Township, Jacobsdal, around 11:45 on Sunday, 16 August 2026. The SAPS Xhariep District Commissioner, Brigadier Mohiti Sereetsi, along with the Bloemfontein Tactical Response Team (TRT), Crime Intelligence, SAPS hostage negotiators, and other relevant parties, were promptly dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, initial

By: Neo Ntsele A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and rape. This follows the discovery of the body of a 7-year-old victim beneath a bed in a shack in Bultfontein. On Sunday, 9 August 2026, police were called to a murder scene in the Phahameng area of Bultfontein. Upon arrival, they were led to a shack. There, they found the lifeless body of the young female victim. The victim was discovered with her pants down and had neck injuries. Emergency medical s

Gregony Deck By: Neo Ntsele The Hawks in the Free State have apprehended 35-year-old Gregony Deck, who had been listed as a wanted suspect for allegations involving human trafficking, rape, and robbery. On Friday, 7 August 2026, the Bloemfontein Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team received information about the suspect's location in Theunissen. With assistance from the Tactical Response Team, this information was acted upon, leading to the suspect's arrest at a

Apprehended Suspects By: Neo Ntsele Five suspects, aged between 18 and 25, are set to appear in the Botshabelo Magistrate’s Court soon on various charges, including rape. This follows an intensive investigation by the Boithuso Crime Prevention Unit Relief A, acting on information during #OperationalShanela II, conducted from 3 to 4 August 2026. In the early hours of Monday, 3 August 2026, around 01:30 in F-Section, Boithuso Policing precinct, two females and two males returni

Gregony Deck By: Staff Reporter The Hawks in the Free State are requesting public help to locate Gregony Deck (35), who is sought in relation to charges of human trafficking, kidnapping, and rape that occurred in Bloemfontein from 1 to 4 August 2026. The suspect is thought to have escaped before being captured by authorities and is still on the run. Anyone with details about his location is encouraged to reach out to the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Nkagis

By: Neo Ntsele Police in the Free State have significantly increased their efforts to tackle the usual rise in criminal activities through the multidisciplinary Operation Shanela II. As part of a national directive, the Free State SAPS is conducting focused campaigns in high-risk areas. During these operations, about 2,181 suspects were apprehended, involving high-visibility patrols, integrated roadblocks, and strong law enforcement actions. Detectives also played a role in t

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, has expressed approval of the rapid arrest of a 29-year-old suspect from Kudumane Village, QwaQwa. The suspect was found hiding at a relative's residence in Bluegumbosch less than a day after the alleged brutal murder of an unidentified woman. The arrest followed an incident where the suspect allegedly stabbed and set the woman on fire inside a shack near Setsing Shopping

Seized Ammunition By: Neo Ntsele Police in Zastron arrested a 41-year-old man and seized live ammunition. On Friday, 24 July 2026, around 09:15, officers from Zastron Police Station, Selosesha Public Order Police, and Ladybrand K9 were carrying out a Second-Hand Goods Compliance operation in the Zastron area. At a mechanical workshop, police reportedly discovered 21 live shotgun rounds concealed in a cupboard. A 41-year-old white man was arrested for the illegal possession of

Person of Interest to aid in rape Investigation By: Neo Ntsele The Phuthaditjhaba Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in the Free State is seeking the community's help to find the individual shown in the (composition photo), who is a person of interest and could aid the police in a rape investigation. In May 2026, around 23:00, the complainant returned home with her boyfriend after visiting a local tavern. An argument broke out, during which the boyfriend

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele The quick action by Bloemspruit police resulted in the prompt arrest of a 38-year-old suspect related to the alleged murder of his wife in Grasslands Three, Bloemfontein. The incident took place on the evening of Wednesday, 15 July 2026. Around 19:10, Bloemspruit police responded to a report of a suspected murder at a local residence. When they arrived, officers encountered a tenant living on the property. It is reported that the tenant came ho

By: Neo Ntsele Authorities in Zastron are probing a murder case. This follows an event that took place near Early Birds Tavern in Itumeleng Location, Matlakeng in Zastron around 13:30 on Sunday, 12 July 2026. A 20-year-old suspect from Phomolong Location, also in Matlakeng Zastron, has been apprehended and will soon appear in the Zastron Magistrate’s court. On Sunday, 12 July 2026, while on duty, members of the Visible Policing Unit received a report from the Zastron SAPS Com

By: Neo Ntsele The SAPS in the Free State has confirmed that a Culpable Homicide case has been initiated and is under investigation after a person was struck by a vehicle on Sunday, 5 July 2026, around 05:38 on Tau Street, Blomanda, Bloemfontein. No arrests have been made so far, as the investigation is still ongoing. Once all witness statements and pending reports, such as the post-mortem report, are received and reviewed, the case file will be forwarded to the Senior State

Free State Province Operation Shanela II By: Neo Ntsele Various units of the South African Police Service, along with officials from the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Labour, Department of Economic, Small Business Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, South African Revenue Services, and Mangaung Metro Municipality Law Enforcement, conducted policing actions. These included high visibility patrols (1,015