LIMPOPO – The cop investigating the pig farm murder case, Captain Phaladi Makola, has told the Limpopo High Court that the main accused, Zacariah Olivier, allegedly admitted he was the only one responsible for the killing of two women who were shot dead at Onverwacht Farm in Sebayeng.

Officer testifies on alleged confession

The court heard that Olivier also allegedly told police he was bankrupt and could not afford a lawyer when he made his confession under Section 217.

Makola said Olivier claimed he alone was responsible for everything that happened on August 17, 2024, the day Maria Makgato and Lucadia Ndlovu were allegedly murdered on his farm with gunshots, and their bodies dumped inside a pigsty.

Olivier and Musora have pleaded not guilty and face serious charges including murder, attempted murder and defeating the ends of justice.

Defence disputes confession’s legality

The tense mood intensified when Oliver’s lawyer Jakobus Venter accused Makola of being dishonest.

“I put it to you that you are dishonest because it’s my client’s version that you promised him that if he confesses, he and accused three, William Musora, will be released,” Venter said.

Makola denied entering into any deal.

“I have never struck a deal with accused one. He is the one who said he is responsible for everything that happened that night,” he told the court.

Tension erupts between defence and prosecution

Things reached boiling point when Venter said he did not have a copy of a statement containing this confession that both judge Jane Ngobeni and state prosecutor, Adv George Sekhukhune possessed.

During a short-break, the two men compared their documents, a moment in which Sekhukhune accused Venter of being dishonest.

Venter confronted Sekhukhune for the accusation. Sekhukhune apologised shortly after and a copy was made available to Venter through the court’s administrators.

Makola is being put to testify as the court tries to decide whether a key confession can be used as evidence, or not.

This after Lt Col Simon Mafokadvha from the police’s Capricorn District detectives told the court on Wednesday that he followed all legal procedures when he obtained the confession from accused number one, Olivier.

Trial-within-a-trial continues

The confession was taken under Section 217 after Olivier was detained at the Botlokwa Police Station.

This led to a trial-within-a-trial to determine if the statement was made freely and voluntarily.

Taking the stand, Mafokadvha denied any wrongdoing. “He was not assaulted or coerced. He confessed voluntarily,” he told the court.

Reading from the statement, he added: “The accused willingly signed the confession statement when he finished.”

Mafokadovha said he gave Olivier an opportunity to read the statement after it was written. “He even told me I am well-experienced because I wrote everything he had told me,” he said.

Sekhukhune asked whether any promises were made in exchange of the confession.

“No, I did not promise him anything,” replied Mafokadvha.

However, during cross-examination, Venter challenged the officer’s version.

“It is my client’s version that he was not comfortable with the statement. He also told you he was not comfortable with the use of the word ‘murder’ in his confession,” Venter explained.

He further claimed Mafokadvha rewrote the statement and failed to read it back to Olivier before making him sign.

“That is not true,” Mafokadovha responded.