The brutal killing of two black women, Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu, allegedly shot and fed to pigs by a white farmer and his workers, has sparked outrage in South Africa. The incident occurred on a farm near Polokwane in the country’s northern Limpopo province in August. The bodies of the victims were reportedly given to pigs in an attempt to dispose of the evidence.
The farm owner, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, and his employees, Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, are currently facing murder charges. The court is deliberating whether to grant them bail ahead of their trial. The suspects have not yet entered a plea in court.
Protesters gathered outside the courtroom in Polokwane, demanding that the suspects be denied bail. The courtroom was packed with families of the victims and the accused. Magistrate Ntilane Felleng allowed the proceedings to be filmed by the media, citing public interest.
The incident has heightened racial tensions in South Africa, especially in rural areas. The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party has called for the farm to be shut down, citing safety concerns for consumers. The South African Human Rights Commission has condemned the killings and called for anti-racism dialogues.
Other recent incidents, including the alleged murder of two men on a farm in Mpumalanga and a 70-year-old farmer driving over a six-year-old boy in Western Cape, have further exacerbated racial tensions in the country. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is actively pursuing these cases.
The family of Maria Makgato, a single mother of four sons, is devastated by her killing. Her eldest son, Ranti Makgato, expressed his grief and called for justice for his mother. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing racial issues in South Africa and the need for dialogue and accountability.
