Three men in South Africa have been charged with the brutal murder of two women, whose bodies were allegedly fed to pigs, sparking widespread public outrage.
The suspects—farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, supervisor Andrian Rudolph de Wet, and employee William Musora—appeared in court in Limpopo on Tuesday. They face two counts of premeditated murder, one count of attempted murder, and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Musora, a Zimbabwean national, also faces charges of illegal immigration. The prosecution is seeking to deny bail until the trial concludes.
The incident occurred in August, when a dairy company reportedly dumped potentially expired goods at Olivier’s farm. The victims, Locadia Ndlovu and Maria Makgatho, allegedly trespassed to collect the discarded items. They were shot and killed, while a man accompanying them was wounded but managed to escape and alert authorities. Police later discovered the decomposed bodies of the women in a pigsty.
The case has drawn strong reactions, with political parties protesting outside Mankweng Magistrates Court, demanding the harshest penalties for the accused. Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission has urged the public to avoid vigilante actions.
Violent crime on South African farms, including both attacks on farmers and the abuse of workers, remains a long-standing issue. The trial will resume next month.
(AP)
