The suspect wanted in connection with the brutal attack on 30-year-old Carla van der Westhuizen was arrested yesterday afternoon.

The arrest followed a massive manhunt and an intelligence-driven operation led by Ladysmith detectives. While they nearly apprehended him earlier the morning, he initially evaded capture. However, they successfully traced and arrested him later in the day.

Van der Westhuizen was attacked, allegedly by the suspect, while she was waiting for her cycling partner in Farquhar Road in Ladysmith shortly after 04:30 on Thursday morning.

She was stabbed three times with a knife as a man attempted to take her bike. One of the stab wounds, according to doctors, could have been fatal if it had gone a centimetre deeper.

When she refused to release the bike, he struck her with a brick, cracking her helmet with one blow and landing a glancing blow to her face. During the struggle, she slipped and released the bike, allowing the man to flee on it.

Police recovered the bike on Friday after it was sold for R200, allegedly by the suspect.

The suspect, known to police, will face attempted murder and additional charges.