In a court proceeding that has gripped South Africa, Adrian de Wet, a 20-year-old farm worker, disclosed that he was compelled to dispose of the bodies of two deceased women by feeding them to pigs. Both women, identified as Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were reportedly killed last year while searching for food on a farm near Polokwane in Limpopo province. De Wet has turned state witness amidst murder charges against him and two other men, where he alleges that farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier shot the women.
The shocking testimony arrived as a part of the ongoing trial, which has ignited public outrage and called attention to the deep-seated racial tensions still present in South Africa. De Wet claimed he was under duress when forced to dispose of the victims’ bodies, a plea that could potentially lead to the dismissal of charges against him if the court accepts his narrative.
The two women were on the farm to seek soon-to-expire dairy products meant for pigs when the fatal incident occurred. Alongside De Wet, William Musora and Olivier face allegations of murder and other serious charges, including the attempted murder of Ndlovu’s husband who was with the women during the event. Further implications arise for Musora, a Zimbabwean national, who faces additional charges related to his immigration status.
The Limpopo High Court filled with family members and supporters of the victims as well as those opposing the farm, reflecting the community’s unrest surrounding this horrific case. The trial now postponed until next week, stands central to discussions about race, crime, and land ownership in a country still wrestling with its apartheid legacy.
