Two men were arrested shortly after an elderly couple were attacked, tied up and robbed on their Smithfield farm, in the Free State, yesterday.

Bloemfontein Courant reports that the couple, aged 78 and 81, returned to their farm at around 13:30 when they were confronted by two suspects.

According to Free State police spokesperson Captain Loraine Earle, the wife entered the house while her husband remained outside.

“While approaching the kitchen door, she was overpowered by two unknown suspects,” says Earle. “They assaulted her, threatened her with knives, and forced her back to where her husband was still approaching the house. The suspects then forced both victims into the house and tied them up with cable ties.”

The house was ransacked, phones, cash and jewellery stolen, and the husband was forced to transfer money. “The suspects then pushed the husband into his own vehicle and drove off with him,” adds Earle. “They later abandoned him in the driveway of the farm before fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle.”

The couple contacted neighbouring farmers and police. Two suspects, aged 29 and 36, were arrested on their way to Bethulie shortly afterwards. Police recovered the stolen cash and vehicle.

Free State police commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane has assigned the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime Unit to lead the investigation. Forensic experts have processed the scene.

Earle confirms the suspects remain in custody and face charges of house robbery with aggravating circumstances, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of suspected stolen property.

Motswenyane commended the rapid response: “The seamless co-operation between the community, our rural safety partners, and SAPS units ensured these suspects were taken off the streets before sunset. This is a textbook example of integrated rural safety,” she says.

The investigation is ongoing.

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