Mankweng – Three men accused of the shocking murder of two women whose decomposed bodies were found in a pigsty on a farm in Mankweng, Limpopo, have been remanded in custody.
Pig farmer 60-year-old Zachariah Johannes Olivier, farm supervisor 19-year-old Andrian Rudolph De Wet, and 45-year-old employee William Musora, a Zimbabwean, appeared in the Mankweng Magistrate’s Court on Friday, (30 August 2024), for their bail application.
The accused face several charges, including two counts of premeditated murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice.
The Zimbabwe national, Musora, was also charged with being an illegal immigrant.
Outside the court, irate residents protested against the accused and demanded that the court deny them bail.
Allegations are that the crimes were committed on 17 August 2024 at the Onvervaght Farm, located within the Sebayeng policing area.
It is reported that a Clover truck had dumped potentially expired goods, prompting the deceased, 35-year-old Locadia Ndlovu, a Zimbabwean national, and 44-year-old Maria Makgatho of Shikotishing village near Makotopong, to trespass onto the farm to collect these goods.
In a brutal act, the accused allegedly fired several shots at the victims, resulting in the deaths of the two women and injuries to a surviving male individual.
Following the shooting, the male victim managed to crawl to the main road, where he received assistance and was transported to the hospital.
The incident was reported to the police on 20 August 2024 when officers received information regarding the whereabouts of the deceased persons.
Upon investigation, the police discovered the decomposed bodies of the victims inside the pigsty, leading to the arrest of the accused on 21 August 2024.
During the bail application hearing on Friday, the defence for Olivier requested access to his warning statement, while De Wet sought access to the contents of the case docket.
The State opposed these applications, asserting that the accused were not entitled to the information for bail purposes.
Consequently, the State noted an appeal against the ruling made by Magistrate Arshad Chaya regarding Olivier’s application for access.
The matter, which sent shock waves throughout South Africa and beyond, has been postponed to 10 September 2024 to allow the appeal process to unfold and for a possible bail hearing.
All accused individuals will remain in custody until the next court appearance.
A day before the bail hearing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said he was “deeply appalled and outraged by the heinous crime committed in Mankweng”.
The minister said he found “this brutal act utterly reprehensible, showing a complete disregard for human life”.
He added: “The arrest of these suspects is a step towards justice for the victims and their families.
“I strongly condemn these acts and hope that the court will recognise the gravity of this situation during the formal bail application.
“Granting bail to these suspects would undermine the severity of their alleged crimes and pose a threat to public safety.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this incredibly difficult time.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to support the ongoing investigation and bring closure to those affected by this tragedy.”
Minister Mchunu added: “I want to commend the Provincial Tracking Team and the Murder and Robbery Unit for their diligent work in apprehending these suspects”.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi said: “The NPA is committed to ensuring justice for the victims and their families, emphasising that acts of violence will not be tolerated within our communities”.
