Pig farm double murder: Mankweng court postpones case

Hundreds gathered outside the court as three people accused of killing two women at a pig farm made their way to the dock.

2 hours ago
Koketšo Sekhwela 1 minute read
Murder accused Zachariah Olivier (60), Adriaan De Wet (19), and William Musoro (45) in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court.

The murder case against Onverwaght farm owner Zachariah Olivier (60) and his employees, Adriaan De Wet (19) and William Musoro (45), was postponed in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court this morning.

The trio stands accused of murdering Mariah Makgato (47) and Lucia Ndlovu (34) and feeding them to pigs on August 17.

The women’s bodies were discovered after the police were alerted to Makgato’s disappearance after she visited the farm that day.

Makgato and Ndlovu were accompanied to the farm by a 47-year-old foreign national man who was shot and later hospitalised.

It is said the trio and other community members trespassed on the farm to collect discarded food.

Shots were fired at the group, resulting in Makgato and Ndlovu’s deaths.

The accused each face charges of two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and defeating the ends of justice. Musuro also faces a charge of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

Tense emotions filled the courtroom this morning as the three accused arrived, while hundreds gathered outside to support the victims’ families and call for no bail.

The court granted Olivier’s legal counsel permission to obtain the statement he made at the time of his arrest, which was made without legal representation, while De Wet was denied access to the docket.

Legal counsel for the trio asked for an extension to consult the accused, citing that they did not have sufficient time to do so.

Olivier, De Wet and Musoro were remanded in custody and are due to next appear in court on September 10.

Read original story on www.citizen.co.za

2 hours ago
Koketšo Sekhwela 1 minute read
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