Crime in SA | Police confident teen's murderer will be caught soon

BLOEMFONTEIN - The Free State teen who was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered has been described as a bubbly youngster who loved life.

Machaka Radebe (16), whose body was found dumped in a field on Monday, was buried on Saturday.

Family and police say the kidnappers demanded ransom money.

Radebe's disappearance has deepened fears of a criminal syndicate possibly operating in Bloemfontein.

WATCH: Crime in SA | Cele attends funeral of slain teenager

It followed the kidnapping of Lesego Motaung (22) who disappeared in October, and Lerato Masiu (23) who left home with a man who pretended to be an investigating officer last month.

While the two women remain missing, it wasn't long before Mackaha's fate was discovered.  

Police minister Beki Cele says one person has been questioned and while he hasn't been linked to the crime yet, the minister is confident DNA evidence and cellphone records analysis among, others things, will help police crack the case.

* eNCA’s Moloko Moloto reports.