A 36-year-old man was on Monday at around 18:00 arrested at Spring Valley in eMalahleni in connection with the murder of Johan Nortjé (66).

Nortjé was killed at about 06:30 on Sunday on his farm, Wilgekraal, in the Badfontein Valley.

Members of the SAPS K9 Unit and other police departments took part in the operation.

According to police, the suspect was shot and wounded and then arrested by the SAPS members. He is currently in a critical condition at Witbank Hospital.

The police members also managed to recover a white Toyota Hilux GD6, and a 9mm pistol and ammunition which were in his possession of the suspect. According to information received, the vehicle and firearm were stolen during the farm attack.

Police say that on Sunday morning, Nortjé went to move his Toyota Hilux when he was approached by two suspects. According to an eyewitness, Nortjé was shot at point-blank range while his hands were in the air. The suspects tried to hide his body under large gingham bags in one of the outbuildings.

The attackers then entered his home through the kitchen, and reportedly assaulted and tied up Nortjé’s wife, Susan, with wire.

Farmworkers who were already working in the fields realised that something was amiss when they saw the Toyota Hilux driving at breakneck speed on the farm road toward the R36.

One of the workers rushed to a neighbour while the other workers rushed to the house. The neighbour untied Susan, while the Badfontein Landowners’ Association and neighbours alerted the Lydenburg SAPS of the attack.