Recovered Cash By: Neo Ntsele The SAPS Provincial Commissioner of the Free State, Lieutenant General Solomon Lesia, has applauded a multidisciplinary team led by Crime Intelligence for the successful arrest of two wanted cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery suspects and the recovery of stolen money following a cross pavement robbery in Welkom. The incident occurred at Cash and Carry in Welkom when security officers were collecting money from the store on Saturday, 23 May 2026, at a

By: Neo Ntsele On Wednesday, 20 May 2026, off-duty members from the Mangaung Metro District Operational Command Centre (DOCC) East Task Team acted promptly on a tip-off. The information indicated that an adult male was allegedly selling drugs at the Thaba Nchu taxi rank. The team quickly mobilised and headed to the bustling transit location. Upon arrival, they identified a male who matched the provided description. With tactical precision, the officers approached and apprehen

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele Ente Thibello Sekhoto (51) and his company, Batlokoa Circle 12 Plaster Services (Pty) Ltd, were sentenced on 13 May 2026 by the Heilbron Magistrates' Court for fraud and money laundering related to the Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). In 2020, Sekhoto fraudulently applied for Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits for individuals who were not actually employed by the company. Due to this fraudulent application, the Un

By: Neo Ntsele On 11 May 2026, members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Bethlehem executed a search and seizure operation at the residence of a police official in Villiers as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected stolen property. During the operation, two motorcycles suspected to be stolen were recovered. A 45-year-old police Sergeant was subsequently arrested on charges of possession of suspected stolen property, fraud, and defeating the ends of j

By: Neo Ntsele The accused, Sibusiso Mbuli, aged 27, was sentenced before Botshabelo Regional Court on 08 May 2026 to two life terms imprisonment for two counts of rape, 15 years' for robbery with aggravating circumstances and a further three years for robbery. Selosesha SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) were tasked to investigate two cases of robbery and rape that had the same modus operandi. The accused, Sibusiso Mbuli, lured female victi

By: Staff Reporter The Free State Provincial Serial Electronic Crime Investigation (SECI) Unit has made significant strides in dismantling a dangerous syndicate responsible for a wave of terror across the Lejweleputswa District. ​For over a decade, the syndicate targeted residents in Virginia, Welkom, and Odendaalsrus, committing a series of violent offenses including house robberies, housebreaking, attempted murder, and rape. ​The breakthrough in these cold cases is attribut

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele On 4 May 2026, the Bethlehem Magistrates Court sentenced Ernest Ratladiela Semela, aged 26, to a seven-year prison term for drug dealing. In April 2024, Bethlehem detectives acted on a tip about an unlicensed firearm at a shack in Captain Charles, Bohlokong. During their search of the premises, they found several sachets of crystal meth, mandrax tablets, nyaope plastic wraps, dagga, and more than R56,000 in cash. The accused was immediately arr

By: Staff Reporter On Tuesday, 15 November 2022, the Bloemfontein Flying Squad apprehended Braam Bothma (18) while he was travelling between scrapyards in Oranjesig to sell copper cable, which was suspected to be stolen, weighing 3.58 kilograms. Unfortunately, the copper cables were burned and could not be identified. Between Wednesday, 16 April 2025, and Friday, 18 April 2025, there were incidents involving tampering with, damaging, or destroying essential infrastructure [Se

Mbuyiselo Faith Mpungose By: Staff Reporter The Virginia police are requesting help from the public to locate Mbuyiselo Faith Mpungose (29), who has disappeared. It is reported that the individual was last seen on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, around 09:00. He was reportedly last observed when he and six others were taken to the local clinic for medical care. Later that day, he was missing. A search to find him was promptly initiated. All attempts to find him have been unsuccess

Crime Scene Logo By: Ntsele Neo On April 23, 2026, the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein issued a forfeiture order to the Hawks' Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) and the National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) for a Ford Ranger bakkie valued at approximately R350,000. This vehicle was connected to a case of Eskom copper cable theft in the Steynsrus area. On May 9, 2025, a farmer in Steynsrus was informed about a planned theft of an Esko

By: Neo Ntsele In an effort to eliminate illegal substances and gang-related activities in our communities, the Provincial Anti-Gang Unit in Bloemfontein executed a successful tactical operation in the Xhariep District on Sunday, April 26, 2026. This 12-hour operation, running from 03:00 to 15:00, focused on specific drug dens in the towns of Zastron and Wepener. The team began their operation in Zastron, where they raided several locations. During the search of a targeted re

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele On 24 April 2026, the Free State High Court in Welkom sentenced 55-year-old Mozambican national, Frimino David Matola, following his conviction on 23 April 2026 for multiple offences. These offences include the murder of a police officer, two counts of attempted murder, illegal possession of an automatic firearm and ammunition, and breaches of immigration laws. The charges relate to the fatal shooting of Sergeant Disema Steven Mapane on 6 De

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele On 20 April 2026, the Vrede Regional Court sentenced a Zimbabwean named Felix Magatu, aged 44, to seven years in prison for tampering with or damaging essential infrastructure and another seven years for stealing crude oil. He was also deemed unfit to own a firearm. Magatu's accomplice, Shepard Vareni, is currently serving a prison sentence after being sentenced by the same court in November 2025. On 25 September 2023, security personnel were

Stolen Lion Cubs By: Neo Ntsele Elias Moloi (36) and Mokete Elizabeth Dikoko (51), a police administration clerk at Bothaville SAPS, appeared in the Bothaville Magistrates Court on 7 April 2026 for allegedly violating the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004. They were arrested along with a 14-year-old minor on Thursday, 2 April 2026, in Bothaville while attempting to sell four lion cubs at a price of R100,000 each. Members of the Hawks in Welkom resp

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele On 20 March 2026, the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court sentenced three individuals, Khotso Mabolloane (51), Sibongile Nyembe (31), and Jabulane Joseph Mazibuko (40), for fraud and related offenses after a fraudulent transaction resulted in a loss of over R4 million for VKB Agriculture (Pty) Ltd. It was reported that on 16 February 2018, near VKB Agriculture (Pty) Ltd in Reitz, six individuals, Khotso Mabolloane, Tumane Isaac Mokoena, Sibongile

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele On Monday, 16 March 2026, Advocate Siseko Leonard Cengcani (55) from Cengcani and Associates, Tshadi Annah Molelekoa-Taso (44), Nomalizwe Brenda Nkwane (45), and Nontsikelelo Grace Mkololo (41) were detained by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Bloemfontein on charges of alleged fraud. The suspects appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court the same day. Allegations suggest that in 2020, complainants responded to

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele Jacolene Hendricks (45) was sentenced by the Kroonstad Magistrates Court on 12 March 2026 after being found guilty of 75 counts of fraud. The conviction arose from an internal investigation into the financial dealings of the Hansie Muller Besigheidstrust in Viljoenskroon. This followed reports from some business clients who claimed the accused had instructed them to deposit payments for goods into a different bank account. A case docket was o

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele The Phuthaditjhaba Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Lekhotla Joseph Rafanyane (30), for the murder of a police officer. On 27 February (Fri), the court found Lekgotla Joseph Rafanyane guilty as charged. He was sentenced to 20 years direct imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm. On 9 April 2023, members of Bethlehem Serious Organised Crime Investigation received information about the killing of a police official in Botjha

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele Vuyani Gibson Mpasie 27, a fake bursaries donor, masquerading as a Mangaung Metro official, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court today (Mon) for formal bail hearing, for alleged corruption and extortion. The case against him was postponed to Monday, 16 February 2026 for a formal bail application after making his first appearance on Thursday last week. He is expected to reappear soon in court. On 5 February 2026, Serious Corruption Inv

Crime Scene Logo By: Neo Ntsele The Free State Division of the High Court in Bloemfontein on Wednesday, the 3rd, sentenced Sello Cedric Pinkoane (52) to 14 years of direct imprisonment for fraud, uttering, and money laundering worth R64.8 million. In January 2017, the accused approached an elderly businesswoman with a business proposal. He claimed to have obtained a lucrative tender with a leading mining company. He informed the victim that he urgently needed vehicles and cas