Three individuals have made an appearance in court in South Africa, charged with the murder of two women and allegedly feeding their remains to pigs on the agricultural land where they are employed.
Farm proprietor Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, supervisor Adrian Rudolph de Wet, 19, and worker William Musora, 45, are facing two counts of premeditated homicide, one count of attempted murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Musora, who is a national of Zimbabwe, also confronts allegations of residing in South Africa unlawfully.
The deceased women, Locadia Ndlovu and Maria Makgatho, were purportedly trespassing on Olivier’s farm in Limpopo province back in August when they were fatally shot.
Ms. Ndlovu’s spouse, Mabutho, was present during the incident and disclosed to South African broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that he too was shot on the property.
He succeeded in crawling to a nearby roadway where he was reportedly able to summon assistance before being transported to a police station where an ambulance was requested.
Mr. Ndlovu informed authorities of the occurrences before officers visited the farm but were unable to locate the women, as reported by South African news portal IOL.
However, reports indicate that law enforcement eventually discovered the bodies in a pigpen on the farm several days afterward.
Authorities have confirmed that Ms. Makgatho and Ms. Ndlovu, aged 47 and 34 respectively, had been mauled by pigs and bore multiple gunshot wounds on their bodies.
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Protestors demonstrate outside the court on Tuesday. Pic: AP
The two women, alongside Mr. Ndlovu, were reportedly trespassing on the property in an effort to retrieve potentially outdated dairy products that had been discarded by a delivery truck.
Olivier, De Wet, and Musora appeared before the Mankweng Magistrates’ Court in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Tuesday.
The prosecution seeks to have them detained until the trial concludes.
This case has incited significant outrage across South Africa, with various political factions demonstrating outside the courthouse, demanding that the accused be denied bail and receive the severest possible penalties.
The South African Human Rights Commission has urged the public to refrain from taking vigilante actions in retaliation.
Violence on South African farms has been a persistent issue, including the murder of farmers and the exploitation of laborers.
The proceedings are set to continue next month.
