A 38-year-old Free State man accused of raping a woman in 2009 has been arrested after spending 17 years on the run, with police saying the case demonstrates that suspects wanted for serious crimes can still be brought to justice years after the alleged offences.

Tshediso Emmanuel Makamole was arrested at about 8.30 pm on Tuesday in Phase 10, Mangaung, after members of the Free State Provincial Tracking Team received information about his whereabouts.

His arrest formed part of the intelligence-driven Operation Shanela 2.

According to Free State police, the case dates back to 2009 when Makamole, who was 17 at the time, allegedly accompanied his 32-year-old next-door neighbour and friends to a tavern in Freedom Square.

Police allege that while the group was travelling home in a bakkie, Makamole stopped the vehicle and forced himself on the woman.

The other occupants were allegedly in the back of the vehicle when a police patrol approached the scene.

The arrival of the police allegedly caused the occupants to flee, allowing officers to rescue the woman.

A rape case was opened at Bloemspruit police station, and Makamole was arrested.

He later appeared in court and was released on bail. However, according to police, he failed to return for subsequent court appearances, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest.

The case was subsequently handed to the Provincial Tracking and Tracing Team, which eventually located him 17 years later.

Free State police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane said the arrest demonstrated the importance of persistent police investigations and intelligence gathering.

Makamole is expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court, where he will face the 2009 rape charge as well as a charge relating to his failure to appear in court.

The arrest comes against the backdrop of South Africa’s continuing struggle with rape and other sexual offences.

The latest available SAPS crime statistics show that sexual violence remains a significant policing challenge, despite some declines in reported offences. In the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, covering October to December 2025, SAPS recorded 6,351 murders nationally, while attempted murders increased by 2.5% compared with the corresponding period.

Earlier SAPS statistics also showed the scale of sexual violence. During the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, 1,621 sexual assault cases were recorded nationally, compared with 1,469 during the same period the previous year. The Free State recorded 86 cases during that quarter.

The police have continued using specialised units and operations to pursue suspects wanted for sexual offences. In September 2025 alone, SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units arrested 2,320 suspects nationally for crimes including rape, sexual assault, abduction and attempted rape. Forty-six sexual offenders were sentenced to life imprisonment during the same month.

More recently, SAPS said its intensified nationwide Shanela operations between 20 and 26 July 2026 resulted in 16,684 arrests for various offences.

For the Free State Provincial Tracking Team, the arrest of Makamole highlights the role of long-term tracking operations in pursuing wanted suspects who have evaded the criminal justice system.

Police said the arrest should also serve as a warning that outstanding warrants do not simply disappear with time.

The allegations against Makamole have not been tested in court. He remains presumed innocent unless and until convicted.

The case will now return to the criminal justice system, 17 years after the alleged rape was reported.

For the woman who reported the crime, however, the arrest marks the latest development in a case that has remained unresolved for nearly two decades.