Eight people are under arrest in connection with the kidnapping of the wife of a plant manager at Harmony mine in Welkom.
The kidnappers had demanded gold as ransom.
Free State police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said the eight were arrested in Welkom and Odendaalsrus on Friday morning.
She said R500,000 cash was seized, as well as 21 gold nuggets (approximately 7kg), a gas gun and a gas pistol. Four vehicles, including an Audi A3, Jeep Cherokee and two BMWs, were also seized.
Mbambo said police also followed up on information which led them to Sebokeng, where an undisclosed amount of money was recovered.