POLOKWANE – The Polokwane High Court has ruled that the confession of pig farmer Zachariah Olivier is admissible as evidence in the double murder trial involving him and his two co-accused.

The court delivered judgment today (Thursday) in the trial-within-a-trial concerning Olivier, who is accused alongside Rudolf de Wet and William Musora of the murders of Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu in 2024.

Confession made freely and voluntarily

The court found that the statement made by Olivier was given freely and voluntarily, without any undue influence or coercion.

Consequently, the statement was ruled admissible as evidence.

Following the ruling, the matter was postponed to October 23 for further proceedings, during which the contents of the statement will be read into the court record.

The three men face charges of double murder after the two women were allegedly killed and their bodies thrown into a pigsty at the Onverwaght farm outside Polokwane in 2024.

The State is represented by Advocate George Sekhukhune and Advocate Matibidi Malatji. The accused remain in custody.