POLOKWANE – The second accused turned state witness in the Onverwaght pig farm double murder case, Rudolph de Wet (20), has taken the stand in the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane, providing a detailed account of the day two women were killed and later found buried in a pigsty.

De Wet, a former supervisor on the farm, testified that on August 18, 2024, the farm owner and first accused, Zacharia Olivier (61), handed him a firearm and instructed him to aim at what Olivier claimed were trespassers.

Read more: Limpopo pig farm murder: Charges dropped against state witness De Wet

The victims, Maria Makgatho, Lucia Ndlovu, and Mabutho Ncube, had reportedly entered the farm to collect expired dairy products discarded by Clover.

De Wet told the court that he fired “two or three” shots in the direction of the victims, after which Olivier allegedly also fired his weapon.

Four days later, the decomposed bodies of Makgatho and Ndlovu were discovered buried inside a pigsty on the property.

Read more: Women’s bodies found decomposed on farm outside Mankweng

Prosecutor Advocate George Sekhukhune led De Wet’s testimony, pressing him for details on the number of shots fired and his role in the events leading to the murders.

De Wet’s appearance follows the start of the trial earlier this week.

On Wednesday, two witnesses testified, including the son of the late Maria, Theo Makgatho (23), whose emotional recollection of the night his mother went missing caused multiple adjournments.

De Wet has signed a Section 204 agreement, granting him immunity from prosecution in exchange for full cooperation with the State.

He is currently in protective custody.

Meanwhile, Olivier and the second accused, William Musora, remain in custody.

A total of 22 witnesses are expected to testify, including investigating officers involved in the early stages of the case.