A Mpumalanga farmer was assaulted, held hostage and photographed next to the corpse of a woman people were trying to bury on his farm without his permission, Beeld reported on Thursday.
Hendrik Davel, 34, owner of the farm Sterkfontein, near Wakkerstroom, was attacked on Wednesday when he approached the group to inquire about the funeral.
His brother Sakkie, 38, who came to his aid, was also assaulted and taken hostage.
The group wanted to hold the funeral in a kraal on Davel's property, but they did not work for him.
Davel told a delegation of the deceased woman's family earlier this week that they could not bury her on his farm, as she had lived, worked and died in Johannesburg.
When Davel noticed on Wednesday morning that a large tent had been erected at the kraal. When he went to investigate he was attacked.
The two brothers were later freed from a locked hut by neighbouring farmers and police, who also managed to retrieve Hendrik Davel's firearm, which had been stolen from him during the assault.
Police spokesman Alf Ueckermann confirmed that cases of assault and theft were being investigated. - Sapa