By Stephen Okoli
A farm
supervisor in South Africa's Limpopo province has claimed he was coerced into
disposing of two women’s bodies by feeding them to pigs, in a murder trial that
has reignited racial tensions in the country’s troubled rural areas.
Adrian
de Wet, a 20-year-old white farm worker, turned state witness as the trial
began in the Limpopo High Court. He faces murder charges alongside farm owner
Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, and William Musora, a 50-year-old Zimbabwean
national.
The
case centres around the deaths of Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, who
were allegedly searching for discarded dairy products on Mr Olivier’s farm near
Polokwane in 2024 when they were shot and killed. Mr De Wet alleges that Mr
Olivier pulled the trigger, and that he, under duress, was made to dump their
bodies in a pig enclosure to conceal the evidence.
Mr De
Wet’s testimony, if accepted by the court, would see all charges against him
dropped. Prosecutors and his lawyer agree that he acted under pressure. The
other accused men, Mr Olivier and Mr Musora, remain behind bars and have not
yet entered pleas.
The
killings have sparked national outrage, with critics accusing the justice
system of failing to protect vulnerable farm workers. The trial has also
deepened long-standing distrust in rural areas, where white farmers still own
the vast majority of land and black labourers often live in poverty. Although
apartheid formally ended over three decades ago, economic inequalities persist,
particularly in agriculture.
The
trio also face charges of attempted murder, for allegedly shooting at Ms
Ndlovu’s husband, who was with her at the time of the incident. Additional
charges include possession of an unlicensed firearm and obstruction of justice.
Mr Musora, who is accused of being in the country illegally, also faces
immigration-related offences.
The
courtroom was filled with tension on Monday, as relatives of the victims and
supporters from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) filled the public gallery.
Mr Olivier’s wife was seen wiping away tears during proceedings. The EFF has
previously called for the farm to be permanently shut down.
The
trial has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume next week.
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