09/01/2025
HEILBRON COMMUNITY MOURNS PASSING OF MUCH LOVED SAPS MEMBER...
HEILBRON: It is with profound sadness that we confirm the tragic passing of Sergeant Thabiso Andries Mareletse (45) in a vehicle accident during the early hours of this morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 02:35 on the Heilbron-Edenville road (R34), about 15 kilometres from Heilbron, in the Free State. The sergeant, the driver of a police bakkie, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His crew, Constable Bongani Jefrey Xanko (31) sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the officers, attached to Heilbron Visible Policing, were actively pursuing a suspect in a white Nissan Sentra, suspected of being involved in a possible stock theft case. During the high-speed chase, the driver lost control, the vehicle left the road and overturned. The members were on official duty, in full uniform, at the time of the incident.