A show jumper believed to have been viciously kidnapped from her farm in South Africa has been found brutally murdered nearby with her body dumped in a sand mine.

Meghan Cremer, 30, was found after police arrested three suspects driving her stolen white Toyota Auris with one allegedly wearing clothing with blood stains on them.

Miss Cremer disappeared on Saturday evening and when she did not turn up for work with her brother Paul at his bakery in Cape Town she was reported missing to police.

Close friend and riding school instructor Linda Mohr said Meghan lived at the Vaderlandsche Rietvlei stud farm in Philippi a suburb of Cape Town where Linda teaches riding.

Show jumper Meghan Cremer, 30, has been found murdered in South Africa five days after going missing from her farm

Meghan Cremer, 30, was found after police arrested three suspects driving her stolen white Toyota Auris with one allegedly wearing clothing with blood stains on them

She had last spoken to her a few hours before she vanished on Saturday and Meghan told her she was 'all snuggled up and ready for bed' with her new dog, a Jack Russell.

However when Linda returned later the dog was outside her home and there was no sign of Meghan or her car.

CCTV footage showed the avid horse rider leaving the house at 6.30pm that day but she was not seen again and never showed up for work on Monday at her brother's bakery.

It is believed she could have been ambushed at the farm and murdered and her body dumped and car stolen.

Police spokesman FC van Wyk said that on Wednesday three suspects aged 27, 34, and 35, had been arrested in her car and that they would all appear before magistrates today.

He said: 'Our investigation and search operation led us to a sand mine on a Philippi farm this morning around 1am where the body of the missing person was found.

Miss Cremer disappeared on Saturday evening and when she did not turn up for work with her brother Paul at his bakery in Cape Town she was reported missing to police

'Three of the suspects have been charged with the illegal possession of a presumably stolen motor vehicle and the 27-year-old man has been charged with murder,' he said.

Police have not revealed how she was murdered or if she was raped but those details may be made public when the three men appear before Athlone magistrates later today.

Private investigator Noel Pratten who had been hired by the Cremer family to find Meghan confirmed the family were informed of her death early today and were distraught.

A spokesman for the Vaderlandsche Rietvlei stables where the murdered woman lived said: 'It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of our dear friend Meghan Cremer.

'We are absolutely heartbroken to have lost this wonderful woman and although she is gone her memory will live on at the farm forever. Our sincere condolences to the family.

Police spokesman FC van Wyk said that on Wednesday three suspects aged 27, 34, and 35, had been arrested in her car (pictured) and that they would all appear before magistrates today

Police have not revealed how she was murdered or if she was raped but those details may be made public when the three men appear before Athlone magistrates later today

'Lastly thank you to the amazing equestrian community who have been so supportive in this difficult time

Messages of condolence have been flooding on to Meghan's Facebook page.

Denise Brown wrote:'Another uncalled for murder of a young lady who worked for a living and died for someone else's greed. I'm heartbroken for what you had to endure'.

Sasha-Leigh Young wrote: 'Our deepest condolences are sent to you and your family. It is so sad another life has been taken. Our country need help. May you rest in peace'.

South Africa is rated as one of the most dangerous countries in the world and the most recent crime statistics showed that there are 50 people murdered every day and 50 rapes.