Pig farm double murder: Mankweng court postpones case

POLOKWANE – The murder case against the Onverwaght farm owner Zachariah Olivier (60) and his two employees Adriaan De Wet (19) and William Musoro (45) has been postponed in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court.

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

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The women’s bodies were discovered after the police were alerted about Makgato’s disappearance after visiting the farm on August 17.

They were accompanied by a 47-year-old foreign national male who was also shot and hospitalised.

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

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, while Musuro also faces a charge of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.

Tense emotions filled the courtroom on Friday 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 will next appear on September 10.