R110 million ransom demands: 15 years for Brits kidnapper

Platinum Bushvelder newspaper | Brits – Twenty days after being kidnapped near their school, two Brits teenagers were found and reunited with their families. Now, one of the men involved has been sentenced to an effective 15 years behind bars.

The Pretoria High Court sentenced Boitumelo Bradly Bogatsu (45) on 1 October 2026 after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping the teenagers, extorting their parents and unlawfully possessing a firearm.

According to NPA regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the teenagers – a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy – were kidnapped near Central Combined School in Brits on 6 March 2024 and taken to a house in Klipgat, where they were held.

Bogatsu contacted the girl’s parents and demanded R50 million. He also demanded R60 million from the boy’s parents, threatening that the teenagers would be killed or trafficked out of the country if the demands were not met.

Both families reported the kidnappings to police that same day. Following an investigation, the teenagers were found on 26 March 2024, ending a 20-day ordeal.

The court imposed 15 years’ imprisonment for each of two kidnapping counts, 10 years for each of two extortion counts, and five years for unlawful possession of a firearm. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Bogatsu will serve an effective 15 years’ direct imprisonment.

His case was separated from that of his eight co-accused, whose trial is scheduled to run from 26 April to 14 May 2027 in the Pretoria High Court.

They are Humphrey Martin (49), Neo Nathaniel Mokoena (41), William Sendrey Phage (58), Vergilio Hlongwane (33), Nkanyiso Bright Hadebe (25), Thulane Jacob Makume (47), Stephen Pitso Kgotsane (35) and Silence Robert Makhubela (31). Their alleged involvement remains to be determined by the court.

The NPA welcomed the sentence and said all nine accused had remained in custody following their arrests after it successfully opposed their release on bail.