Five suspects aged between 21 and 34 have been arrested following the alleged kidnapping and brutal murder of a 31-year-old man in Phase 7, Bloemfontein.

The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, with police saying the victim had been drinking with friends when an argument broke out with a group of strangers.

According to the Free State police, the group allegedly forced the man into a black vehicle before driving away with him.

At about 6am, the victim was found lying on his back in a street in Phase 7.

He had sustained multiple stab wounds to his face and deep wounds to his left cheek.

A large rock and a small spanner were also found near his body.

Paramedics attended the scene but declared the man dead.

Bloemspruit police immediately launched an investigation and established a dedicated task team led by detectives to follow up on information and leads surrounding the killing.

The investigation resulted in the arrest of five suspects, who are now in police custody.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of murder and kidnapping.

Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thabang Solomon Lesia welcomed the arrests and praised the detectives for their swift response.

“The swift apprehension of these suspects sends a clear message that we will not tolerate lawlessness or the brutalization of our citizens,” Lesia said.

He said police would remain committed to ensuring that people accused of serious violent crimes face the justice system.

“My career path speaks for itself, I cannot tolerate those who think they can evade the authority of the state,” Lesia said.

“As the South African Police Service, we remain dedicated and steadfast in our mission to ensure that perpetrators of such violent crimes face the full might of the law.”

The arrests come against the backdrop of persistently high levels of kidnapping in South Africa.

The latest SAPS crime statistics show that 4,638 kidnapping cases were recorded nationally between April and June 2026, an increase of 3.9% compared with the same period in 2025. Gauteng accounted for 2,367 of those cases, more than half of the national total.

SAPS has also previously highlighted the connection between some kidnappings and other serious crimes. In Gauteng, police said kidnappings increased by 38 cases, or 1.6%, during the January to March 2026 quarter, with many of the cases attributed to hijackings.

The figures, however, do not suggest that every kidnapping is linked to ransom or organised crime, with cases ranging from hijacking-related abductions to personal disputes and other circumstances.

In the Bloemspruit case, police have not disclosed a possible motive for the alleged kidnapping and murder.

They also have not released the identities of the five suspects or indicated whether they knew the victim.

The investigation is continuing as the suspects await their first court appearance.