FREE STATE – A lengthy manhunt has concluded for Tshidiso Michael Mokhuane, a 45-year-old rape suspect who had been actively evading authorities since 2020. Members of the SAPS Free State Provincial Tracking Team successfully located and re-arrested the fugitive in the Bloemspruit area, bringing him back into custody to face serious criminal allegations and bail violations.
Acting on a recent, credible tip-off, the specialized tracking unit pinpointed Mokhuane’s location to a makeshift hideout within an informal settlement close to Suncity. The operation culminated on Wednesday evening, 15 July 2026, at approximately 19:25, when officers moved in to take the wanted man into custody.
The current charges stem from a harrowing early-morning event on 1 November 2020, at roughly 00:15. According to the official account, a 50-year-old woman and her current partner were sleeping in their Bloemspruit home when the sound of shattering glass roused them. Investigating the noise, they discovered Mokhuane—the woman’s ex-boyfriend—outside the premises, shouting insults and aggressively attempting to force his way inside.
In a bid to protect himself, the woman’s boyfriend secured himself inside a separate room. The suspect allegedly overpowered the victim, dragging her to his nearby shack. There, he sexually assaulted her and confined her within the structure, holding her captive until she managed to break free the following afternoon.
After escaping, the traumatized survivor returned to her boyfriend’s residence and promptly reported the ordeal at the Bloemspruit Police Station, initiating a formal rape investigation. While Mokhuane was initially taken into police custody and later released on bail, he repeatedly skipped his mandated court dates. This deliberate absence forced the judiciary to issue an active warrant for his arrest.
Mokhuane is now slated to appear before the Bloemspruit Magistrate’s Court in the coming days. He will be answering to the primary charge of rape, compounded by additional legal penalties for his prolonged failure to appear in court as previously required. The Provincial Tracking Team continues to emphasize its dedication to tracking down fugitives and ensuring accountability in the justice system.
