His body was found in a shallow grave - and his 85-year-old mother had been raped

TWO men are expected to appear in the Reitz regional court tomorrow in connection with the death of a local farmer whose body was found buried in a shallow grave.

Free State police spokesperson Sergeant Mmako Mophiring said the men were arrested after allegedly breaking into a farmer's house and killing him.

"The farmer's son, who lives in Bethlehem, called the house at around 5am to check on his parents, and was surprised when one of the suspects picked up the phone.

"Realising something was wrong, he quickly alerted the police, who rushed to his parents' house," Mophiring said.

He said on arrival, they found the farmer's wife and his mother tied up.

"They were tied up with rope and his 85-year-old mother had been raped.

"His wife is disabled and uses a wheelchair. But she was fortunately not hurt."

One of the men was allegedly recently employed at the farm.

Mophiring said this could have made the men's entry into the house easier.

"We suspect he could have told his accomplice how to gain entry into the farmhouse."

The farmer's body was found near house, buried in a shallow grave.

"It looks as if he was hit with a blunt object on the back of his head. They then dragged him about 500m away from the house where they dug up a grave and buried him.

"He was still tied up when we found him."

Mophiring said the two suspects were arrested at Fetsang township in Reitz yesterday.