FREE STATE – Police have arrested four suspected Rasta Gang members in Meloding on charges of attempted murder following a violent, drug-related home invasion that left a man with severe injuries.
According to official statements from the Welkom Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) and Thabong Crime Intelligence, the four male suspects, aged between 27 and 36, were tracked down and apprehended at various addresses across Meloding on Monday, 13 July 2026. The arrests conclude an intensive manhunt that began after a brutal assault at a local parental home.
The incident occurred on Friday, 10 July 2026, at approximately 03:00. Authorities report that six males forcefully entered the victim’s residence, subjected him to a severe assault using dangerous weapons, and accused him of stealing their drugs. The victim, an African male, sustained critical head and body injuries during the attack and was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Following the attack, a formal case of attempted murder was registered to facilitate a comprehensive criminal investigation.
Acting on actionable intelligence provided by Thabong Crime Intelligence, the Welkom Anti-Gang Unit operationalized the leads to locate the suspects. During the execution of the arrests, law enforcement officers seized and booked several dangerous weapons believed to have been utilized during the commission of the crime. The confiscated items include pangas, knives, a tonfa, a spear, and a sjambok, all of which have been secured as official evidence.
Investigators have formally linked the arrested individuals to the Rasta Gang. The four suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to appear before the Virginia Magistrate’s Court in the near future to face formal charges.
Police have commended the collaborative efforts of the intelligence and anti-gang units in swiftly removing these alleged offenders from the streets, reinforcing ongoing commitments to community safety and the eradication of gang-related violence in the region.