Free State police have launched a manhunt for a 19-year-old suspect following the brutal murder of two young brothers on a farm near Harrismith.
The victims, aged nine and 14, were allegedly attacked and severely assaulted at their home on Toekoms Farm by a suspect known to both the family and the local community. The motive for the killings remains unknown.
According to police, the brothers were found near the doorway of their home with their hands and mouths bound with pieces of cloth.
The 14-year-old was declared dead at the scene, while his younger brother was rushed to hospital for treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries.
Police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring said investigations into the double murder are continuing as officers work to locate the main suspect.
Mophiring confirmed that one person has been taken into custody but said investigators do not believe the individual was directly involved in the killings.
"The police managed to arrest one suspect who is not so much linked to the incident because he was found with what appeared to be trousers belonging to one of the deceased, which were bloodstained. He is currently being questioned," Mophiring said.
Police have appealed to members of the public to assist in tracing the 19-year-old suspect, who remains at large.
"We request members of the community who might know this suspect, who is known to the family and to people in the Toekoms Farm area of Harrismith, to come forward with any information that could assist in locating him," Mophiring added.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the suspect's whereabouts to contact the nearest police station or Crime Stop as investigations continue.