Pig farm double murder: Mankweng court postpones case
Tense emotions filled the courtroom on Friday morning as the three accused arrived, while hundreds gathered outside to support the victims' families and call for no bail.
POLOKWANE – The murder case against the Onverwaght farm owner Zachariah Olivier (60) and his two employees Adriaan De Wet (19) and William Musoro (45) has been postponed in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court.
Zachariah Olivier (60) and his two employees Adriaan De Wet (19), and William Musoro (45) are expected to apply for bail in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court today. The trio stands accused of murdering Mariah Makgato (47) and Lucia Ndlovu (34) and feeding them to pigs on August 20. pic.twitter.com/bXYDO582uo
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) August 30, 2024
The trio stands accused of murdering Mariah Makgato (47) and Lucia Ndlovu (34) on August 17 and feeding them to pigs.
Read more: Pig farm double murder: Mankweng court postpones case
They were accompanied by a 47-year-old foreign national male who was also shot and hospitalised.
It is said the trio trespassed on the farm to collect discarded food with other community members.
Shots were fired at the group, resulting in Makgato and Ndlovu’s deaths.
The accused each face charges of two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition and defeating the ends of justice, while Musuro also faces a charge of contravening the Immigration Act 13 of 2002.
Tense emotions filled the courtroom on Friday morning as the three accused arrived, while hundreds gathered outside to support the victims’ families and call for no bail.
Hundreds of people gathered outside the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court to support the victims' families and to call for no bail for the accused. pic.twitter.com/mZzL9wMdLW
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) August 30, 2024
The court granted Olivier’s legal counsel permission to obtain the statement he made at the time of his arrest, which was made without legal representation, while De Wet was denied access to the docket.
Legal counsel for the trio asked for an extension to consult the accused, citing that they did not have sufficient time to do so.
Olivier, De Wet and Musoro were remanded in custody and will next appear on September 10.
