Staff Reporter
A learner at a school in Olive Hill, Navalsig, in Bloemfontein is behind bars together with three accomplices after they were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly hatching a plan to break into his school and steal 18 laptops as well as other items valued at about R80 000.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Sam Makhele said the suspects, aged between 17 and 25, were rounded up in Ipopeng and Freedom Square in Mangaung following an intelligence-driven operation.
He said the school principal received an alarm notification indicating there was something amiss at the school.
“Upon arrival at about 08:30 he realised that a window to the storeroom was broken,” said Makhele in a statement.
He opened and discovered that 18 HP laptops, school feeding scheme grocery and a projector all valued at R78 000 had been stolen.
A case of burglary was opened for investigation.
Navalsig police, acting on intelligence-driven information, went to Ipopepng and Freedom Square to investigate.
“The first suspect was apprehended in Ipopeng where one laptop was recovered. (Further) information led the police to Freedom Square where 11 more laptops were recovered and three suspects apprehended,” explained Makhele.
“Upon further investigation, police recovered three more laptops . . . already sold to a second-hand goods dealer in town. Investigations are underway to recover the remaining laptops.”
The four suspects are expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court soon facing charges of business burglary and possession of suspected stolen property.
Free State Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane warned residents not to buy suspected stolen goods as they will also be charged.
She urged second-hand goods dealers to request proof of ownership when buying second hand stuff.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Tlhoriso Godfrey Mofokeng briefly appeared in the Bethlehem Magistrates Court on Monday facing charges of rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice.
It is believed Mofokeng dumped the body of a 24-year-old woman from Matwabeng near Senekal in an open field near Liebenbergsvlei River outside Bethlehem after allegedly raping and killing her.
The victim was last seen on September 22 by her family when she left home going to Bethlehem to collect her national identity document.
According to the family, they phoned her several times but couldn’t get hold of her.
Police say a community member walking through an open field came across the woman’s body on September 26 at about 06:30.
She was naked and was lying on her back with her clothes next to her.
The clothes included a pair of blue jeans and underwear.
Underneath the body was a man’s black belt without the buckle.
The woman had an open wound on the left side of the head and her face was swollen.
The body had already started decomposing.
A post-mortem revealed that she was raped and murdered.
Mofokeng was arrested on October 7 in Bohlokong near Bethlehem.
The matter was postponed to October 20 for a formal bail application.
