POLOKWANE – The bail application of Zachariah Olivier (60) has been postponed to February 18, 2025 when the main matter will be heard before the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court with his two co-accused, Rudolph de Wet and William Musora.

Olivier appeared before the Polokwane Regional Court this morning.

The trio face murder charges following the deaths of Maria Makgato and Kudzai Ndlovu, whose bodies were discovered in a pigsty on Olivier’s farm.

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The defense’s legal team was not ready to proceed today, after facing a delay from a member meant to brief primary council, Andries Rheeder.

The bail presiding officer expressed dissatisfaction at the second postponement and said it infringed on the rights of Olivier to access bail fairly.

She also said the matter, originally being heard in Mankweng, interfered with matters she attends to, as she has had to postpone a handful of them to next year to accommodate it, all while the accused in those matters remain in custody.

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Olivier, was emotional throughout the proceedings and a short break was taken for Rheeder to consult with him.

It seemed Olivier was worried about the slowness of the proceedings around his application among other things.

His loved ones comforted him and it was tense in court.

Notably, the High Court in Polokwane recently ruled against Olivier’s request to access a statement he made during his arrest, as it was allegedly taken without a legal representative.