Two men, aged 40 and 42, were found dead in bushes along the R37 after allegedly being assaulted by taxi operators, reports Mpumalanga News.

The Lydenburg police discovered the bodies of the unidentified victims about 10km east of the town yesterday.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said the victims were allegedly kidnapped and attacked at about 21:00 on Wednesday.

“According to reports, three victims were kidnapped by the suspects. One of the victims, aged 48, managed to escape, while the other two were found dead in bushes along the R37 in the Lydenburg area today,” said Masondo.

He said the motive for the attack and subsequent killings is still unknown and forms part of the police investigation.

Mpumalanga News was reliably informed that the suspects were local taxi operators.

“They accused the victims of stealing from their taxis. This is the reason the victims were attacked,” a relative of one of the victims said on condition of anonymity.

Two local taxi operators have been detained on charges of kidnapping, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and murder.

The investigation is ongoing, and Masondo said more arrests are imminent.

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