Harrismith police in the Free State have arrested the wanted alleged double murder suspect (26), on the farm where the incident occurred.

The suspect has been charged with two counts of murder and is expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

According to police reports, on Wednesday, two brothers, Reanetswe Lakaje (9) and Thabiso Lakaje (14), from Toekoms Farm, were allegedly attacked and severely assaulted by a known suspect on the farm for reasons that are still unknown.

“The boys were discovered near the door of their house by a security guard, who found that both their hands and mouths had been fastened with cloth. The security guard immediately alerted the farm manager.

The elder brother was found deceased, while his younger brother was rushed to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.Their mother was at work at the time of the incident and was informed afterwards. The motive behind the double murder remains unknown, and police investigations are continuing,” it reads.

It further said that on Thursday, the suspect was arrested on the same farm following information received from members of the Toekoms Farm community near Harrismith.

The Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia, welcomed the cooperation of the Toekoms Farm community for not taking the law into their own hands, but instead informing police when the suspect resurfaced following the horrific incident.

He applauded the police for their swift response in apprehending the suspect, stating that justice must prevail and that the family of the victims deserves closure.