PIC: SUPPLIED
The three accused in the so-called ‘pig farm murders’ will have to wait a little while longer to hear their fate after their bail application was postponed in the Mankweng Magistrates' Court in Limpopo on Friday.
The trio, namely farm owner and pig farmer Zachariah Johannes Olivier (60), farm supervisor Andrian Rudolph De Wet (19), and employee William Musora (45), a Zimbabwean national, face several charges that include murder, attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice.
NPA regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi said in addition, Musora is charged with being an illegal immigrant.
Dzhangi said the charges against the three stem from an incident that allegedly took place on 17 August 2024 at the Onvervaght farm in Limpopo.
“It’s reported that a Clover truck had dumped potentially expired goods, prompting the deceased, Locadia Ndlovu (35), a Zimbabwean national, and Maria Makgatho (44), to trespass onto the farm to collect these goods,” Dzhangi said in a statement.
“In a brutal act, the accused allegedly fired several shots at the victims, resulting in the deaths of the two women and injuries to a surviving male individual.”
Following the shooting, the male victim managed to crawl to the main road where he received assistance and was transported to hospital.
The incident was reported to the police on 20 August 2024 when officers received information regarding the whereabouts of the deceased persons.
“Upon investigation, the police discovered the decomposed bodies of the victims inside the pigsty, leading to the arrest of the accused on 21 August 2024.”
Dzhangi said during their bail application hearing on Friday, the defence for Olivier requested access to his warning statement, while De Wet sought access to the contents of the case docket.
The State opposed these applications, asserting that the accused were not entitled to the information for bail purposes.
Consequently, the state noted an appeal against the ruling made by Magistrate Arshad Chaya regarding Olivier's application for access.
“The matter has been postponed to 10 September 2024 to allow the appeal process to unfold and for a possible bail hearing.
“All accused individuals will remain in custody until the next court appearance.”
