Private security officers arrested three suspects, aged 29 to 40, on a farm in the Harrismith district on Tuesday, 04 February 2026.
The arrest followed a reported housebreaking and theft, and an assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on a farmer. The stolen items were recovered.
At approximately 10:00, the farmer left his farm to fetch an employee. Upon returning, he found two laptops missing from his farm office.
After being informed by his employee that three suspects were seen running across a field, the farmer pursued them. He confronted one suspect. The other two then allegedly assaulted the farmer, hitting him in the head with a stone and causing an open wound.
Responding private security officers rescued the farmer, recovered the two stolen laptops, and arrested the three suspects. They were handed over to Harrismith police.
The trio is charged with housebreaking and theft and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. They are scheduled to appear in the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 06 February 2026.