Police spokesperson Captain Stephen Thakeng said the case against Barend Nel (29) Chabedi Lebeko (29) Andries Moholo (37) and Pieter Van Zyl (29) was postponed to 8 April for a bail application.

The men were arrested after an investigation into an alleged assault on a man and the discovery of a body by the Wesselsbron police on the road between Odendaalsrus and Bultfontein.

On Wednesday, police said two Free State farmers and two farm workers had been arrested in connection with the case.

Pule Motlhanke (54) of K6 Kutlwanong, Odendaalsrus, left home on March 19 for work and was never seen again. He worked as a gardener at Hospital Park in Odendaalsrus.

The day after his disappearance, Motlhanke's wife was told by a friend that he saw Motlhanke being assaulted and insulted by two men, Thakeng said.

They apparently later drove away with the victim.

Motlhanke's disappearance was reported to the Odendaalsrus police, who told his wife to contact hospitals.

Thakeng said the victim's wife was again told, by another person, about the alleged assault.

Police then opened a missing person case.

Thakeng said the investigation led to the arrest of the four men on Tuesday.