Three men were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly murdering a 30-year-old man, and kidnapping two others in the Boland, Western Cape police said.

"The incident occurred on Monday when a fire was seen by a farmer on a gravel road near Eendekuil," said Captain Bernadine Steyn.

"When the farmer investigated, he found the body of Mervin Visagie lying near a truck that was on fire,"

Police were summoned and it was found that Visagie had been stabbed in his upper body.

Upon further investigation, police confirmed that two people who had been travelling with Visagie were missing.

She said police suspected that the truck was hijacked near Citrusdal.

Visagie and the other two occupants were transporting meat valued at R300 0000. The meat was missing from the truck.

"The three males were arrested at three different butcheries in Ottery, Lotus River and Athlone Industria and a total of about 250 sheep carcasses were confiscated."

Police were still searching for the two missing men.