Three men were arrested after a sheep herder was killed at a farm in Zamdela near Sasolburg in the Free State.

The three suspects will appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court today where they are set to face charges related to murder and stock theft.

On Saturday at about 08:00 Zamdela police received information about a murder at a farm near Amelia in the area.

In a statement, police spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli says on arrival, police found a 33-year-old sheep herder with both his hands tied with a rope and a gunshot wound to his stomach.

The man was identified as Hlompo Patrick Phale.

Police also discovered that about 98 sheep were stolen from the farm.

Zamdela police opened a case of murder and stock theft and investigations were launched.

“The Provincial Organised Crime Unit took over the investigation and in less than 48 hours, through intelligence-led information, three suspects aged between 33 and 41 were arrested in Randfontein, Gauteng. They recovered 18 of the stolen sheep.”

According to Kareli, more arrests are expected.