A police sergeant from the Free State tragically lost his life after a high-speed car chase ended in a fatal crash early Thursday morning. Sergeant Thabiso Andries Mareletse, aged 45, was driving a state vehicle when it collided on the Heilbron-Edenville Road, approximately 15 kilometers from Heilbron. The crash occurred before 3 a.m., and Mareletse succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, Mareletse’s partner, Constable Bongani Jeffrey Xanko, 31, was seriously injured and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The officers, who were part of the Heilbron Visible Policing Unit, had been in pursuit of a suspect driving a white Nissan Sentra. The suspect is believed to be involved in a stock theft case, and the chase ensued as part of their official duties.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the police vehicle lost control during the high-speed pursuit, causing it to veer off the road and overturn. At the time of the incident, both officers were in full uniform and on official duty.
The news has deeply affected the Free State police force. Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, the province’s police commissioner, expressed his condolences, acknowledging the loss of Sergeant Mareletse and the emotional toll it has taken on his colleagues and loved ones. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Sergeant Mareletse during this difficult time,” said Motswenyane. “It is indeed a sad beginning to the year, with the loss of three members already in the line of duty. We also wish Constable Xanko a speedy recovery.”
This tragic incident highlights the dangers law enforcement officers face daily while serving the community, often putting their lives on the line to protect others. The Free State police force remains in mourning as it navigates this painful loss.
