The man, believed to be in his 30s, was shot in the back with a shotgun, causing serious injuries.

His body was found by passersby and the Middelburg Forensic Pathology Department was dispatched to the open field where he was lying.

His family has yet to formally identify him.

Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, and the Middelburg Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

In recent years, Middelburg has been plagued by diesel theft cases and business burglaries.

• In January, a daring thief targeted a plot in Vaalbank, located near the Cool Ideas Truck Stop. The suspect took four gas bottles: one orange 48kg bottle, two green 48kg bottles, and one green 19kg bottle.

• In 2022, the Middelburg Police arrested three Mozambican nationals, Antonio Munguambe (28), Rivage Alzido Juliao (26), and Tali Alberte (25), after they were found with 600 litres of diesel.

• Again in 2022, four alleged diesel thieves were arrested following an attempted burglary at Vaalbult Colliery.