Police in the Free State have arrested three suspects wanted for rape including a 14-year-old, during Operation Shanela II.
The provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, said the suspects were successfully apprehended in connection with separate, long-standing rape cases in the Bloemspruit area.
“Acting on vital information provided by an informant, the tracking team launched a targeted tracing operation. They successfully located and arrested 47-year-old Deon Joshua at a residential address in Bergman, Bloemspruit. Joshua was wanted on a warrant of arrest issued by the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in 2025 in connection with a Bloemspruit rape case,” Kareli said.
Following another tip-off from a tasked informant, the team managed to apprehend a wanted 14-year-old who has been wanted for several years.
“The suspect, linked to a 2022 Bloemspruit rape case, had avoided arrest and prosecution for four years before his run came to an end,” Kareli said.
The teenager cannot be named because he is a minor.
While hot on the trail of another suspect, at approximately 12.20pm, the tracking team received intelligence on the whereabouts of another wanted suspect in Phase 7 on Monday, July 13.
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“The members reacted swiftly, leading to the arrest of 32-year-old Thoriso Joseph Makhala. Makhala was sought for the horrific rape of a mentally challenged female in Bloemspruit in 2017,” Kareli said.
Police said these arrests are a testament to the dedication of its tracking team and the invaluable support they receive from the community.
“We will continue to hunt down those who prey on the vulnerable and ensure they face the full might of the law,” Kareli said.
All three suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court soon to face their respective charges.
