The case of two Black women allegedly shot and fed to pigs by a white farmer and his workers has sparked outrage in South Africa. Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were reportedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane, in the northern Limpopo province, when they were killed in August. The farm owner, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, along with his employees Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, now face charges of murder.
In a shocking twist, it is alleged that after shooting the women, their bodies were fed to pigs in an attempt to dispose of the evidence. The three men are also facing charges of attempted murder for shooting at Mabutho Ncube, Ms. Ndlovu’s husband, who survived and managed to call for help. Ncube says he reported the incident to police, who later discovered the decomposing bodies of the two women in a pigsty.
Ms. Makgato’s brother, Walter Mathole, described the discovery as horrific, telling the BBC that he saw his sister’s partially eaten body inside the pig enclosure. The group had reportedly gone to the farm looking for expired food, which was sometimes left to be fed to the pigs.
The incident has intensified racial tensions in South Africa, particularly in rural areas, despite the official end of apartheid nearly three decades ago. “This has worsened the strained relationship between Black and white people in our country,” said Mr. Mathole, who is calling for the suspects to be denied bail.
Makgato leaves behind four sons, ranging in age from 5 to 22 years old. “My mum died a painful death,” said her eldest son, Ranti Makgato. “She was a loving mother who did everything for us. I think I’ll sleep better at night if the alleged killers are denied bail.”
A court is set to rule on whether bail will be granted to Olivier and his workers ahead of their murder trial. The suspects have yet to enter a plea, which will happen at the start of the trial.
Protests have erupted outside the courthouse, with demonstrators calling for the accused to remain in custody. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a prominent opposition party, has demanded the farm be shut down, arguing that its products pose a danger to consumers.
In response to the outcry, the South African Human Rights Commission condemned the killings and called for anti-racism dialogues in affected communities.
This case is one of several recent incidents that have heightened racial tensions in South Africa. In Mpumalanga province, a farmer and his security guard were arrested in August for the alleged murder of two men accused of stealing sheep. The men’s bodies were burned beyond recognition, and the accused remain in custody while DNA analysis is conducted.
In another incident, a 70-year-old white farmer in Western Cape province allegedly ran over a six-year-old boy, breaking both of his legs, after the child picked up an orange from the ground. The farmer, Christoffel Stoman, faces charges of attempted murder and reckless driving, with the state opposing his bail application.
The African Transformation Movement and Pan Africanist Congress have called for the expropriation of Stoman’s farm following the incident, as the case further fuels the ongoing debate over land and race relations in South Africa.
