NORTH WEST. – Boitumelo Bradly Bogatsu (45) has been sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment by the Pretoria High Court for the kidnapping of two teenagers from Brits and the extortion of their parents.
Lumka Mahanjana, NPA regional spokesperson, says Bogatsu was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on each of two counts of kidnapping, 10 years on each of two counts of extortion and five years for unlawful possession of a firearm. The sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 15 years.
Bogatsu and his co-accused allegedly kidnapped the two teenagers, aged 17 and 18 respectively, near Central Combined School in Brits on 6 March 2024. They were taken to a house in Klipgat and held there. Bogatsu then called the 17-year-old girl's parents and demanded R50 million, while he demanded R60 million from the 18-year-old's parents. He threatened that the teenagers would be killed or trafficked out of the country if the money was not paid. Both families reported the kidnapping to police the same day.
Following an investigation, the teenagers were found 20 days later on 26 March 2024 and reunited with their families. Bogatsu and his co-accused were taken into custody and have remained in detention after the NPA opposed bail.
Bogatsu pleaded guilty in court to the charges and admitted that he kidnapped the teenagers and extorted their parents. His case was separated from that of his eight co-accused. Their trial is scheduled for 26 April to 14 May 2027 in the Pretoria High Court.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
