Free State police have made a breakthrough in the murder case of a Bloemfontein teenager whose body was discovered in Phase 9, Bloemfontein.

Machaka Radebe (16) made headlines when she was reported missing on 2 December by her family after her brother realised she was not in the room where she was last seen sleeping. Days later,

Machaka Radebea was a learner at Brebner High School in Bloemfontein.

Two suspects, aged 28 and 40, were arrested in connection with her kidnapping and murder on Thursday (28/12), said Free State police spokesperson Motantsi Makhele. One suspect was arrested in Bloemfontein while the other one was caught driving between Dewetsdorp and Wepener.

‘The suspects’ names cannot not be shared’

Both made a brief appearance in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (2/1), where their case was postponed to Monday (8/1) for a bail application.

Makhele said the suspects’ names and other information in this matter cannot not be shared as investigations are at a critical stage.

Meanwhile, police are still searching for the murder(s) of a woman (91) and her daughter (66) after their bodies were discovered in a shack at Caleb Motshabi, Bloemfontein.

‘Law enforcement agencies are working overtime to tackle GBV’

The provincial government and community organisations have raised concerns and strongly condemned increased incidents of gender-based violence and the kidnappings of women and children in the Free State.

Premier Mxolisi Dukwana and his executive committee held a GBVF march in Hoffman Square on 20 December, where he cautioned women and children and assured residents that law enforcement agencies are working overtime to tackle GBVF and kidnappings.

It remained unclear whether the arrested suspects were involved in other cases of missing women.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mc