Polokwane, South Africa – The case of two black women, Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, who were allegedly shot and fed to pigs by a white farmer and his workers, has ignited widespread outrage across South Africa. According to a report by the BBC on Wednesday, the brutal incident occurred in August when the women were reportedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane, Limpopo province.
The farm owner, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, along with his employees Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, are facing charges of murder and attempted murder. The court is currently deliberating on whether to grant bail to the accused, who have not yet entered formal pleas.
Protests erupted outside the courthouse in Polokwane, with demonstrators demanding that the suspects be denied bail. Inside the courtroom, families of the victims and the accused sat together as media coverage was permitted, acknowledging the intense public interest surrounding the case.
The accused men also face additional charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Ndlovu’s husband, Mabutho Ncube, who survived the attack and reported the incident to the police. Authorities later discovered the decomposed bodies of Makgato and Ndlovu in the farm’s pigsty.
The incident has left the victims’ families devastated, especially Makgato’s four sons, aged between five and 22. Her eldest son, Ranti Makgato, expressed his heartbreak to the BBC, stating, “My mum died a painful death, she was a loving mother who did everything for us. We lacked nothing because of her.”
The case has drawn significant attention, sparking conversations about racial tensions, farm-related violence, and justice in South Africa.
