A man who allegedly robbed and assaulted a farmer from Steytlerville in the Eastern Cape has been arrested.
The 50-year-old suspect was spotted by alert community members on Wednesday who saw him walking without his shirt on the R329 between Wolwefontein and Steytlerville.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu says residents stopped the man and noticed that he had blood on his jeans.
She says they took a photograph of him and sent it to the farmer who positively identified his attacker, who was also wearing his belt.
Colonel Naidu says on Sunday the 65-year-old complainant was accosted in his house by the suspect who pretended to need some diesel as his car had broken down about 5 km from the farm.
She says the farmer got 2 litres of diesel from his garage and drove the suspect to the scene where no vehicle was seen.
According to the complainant, the suspect asked for a lift to town but also requested a firearm as he was afraid to be attacked in the location.
Colonel Naidu says when the farmer refused to give him a gun, he was assaulted with an ashtray and biltong slicer.
She says he caved in and handed over his gun and was subsequently tied up, gagged with his shirt and dragged into a room.
The farmer managed to alert the police and a family member who came to his assistance.
The suspect will make his first appearance in the Steytlerville Magistrates Court on Thursday where he will be charged with house robbery and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
