A 60-year-old White South African farmer identified as Zachariah Johannes Olivier, and his two workers, Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, have been accused of killing two black women, Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, and feeding their bodies to pigs.
The alleged murder of the two black women has sparked outrage in South Africa.
The women were reportedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane in Limpopo province when they were allegedly shot dead on 17 August by the farmer and his employees.
It was claimed that their bodies were then fed to pigs in an attempt to destroy evidence.
A court will soon determine whether Olivier and his employees can be granted bail ahead of their murder trial.
The bail hearing was postponed to 6 November 2024, to allow for further investigations, meaning the three suspects will remain in custody.
Makgato’s brother, Walter Mathole, told the BBC that this incident has reignited racial tensions between black and white communities, particularly in rural areas.
Despite the end of apartheid 30 years ago, deep divisions remain in some parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the suspects have not yet entered a plea, as this will occur when the trial starts later.
BBC reports that protests erupted outside the courtroom in Polokwane, with demonstrators holding placards and demanding that the suspects be denied bail.
Inside the courtroom, families of the victims and the accused filled the benches as Magistrate Ntilane Felleng allowed media coverage, citing public interest in the case.
The three accused also face charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Ndlovu’s husband, Mabutho Ncube, who managed to survive the attack and sought medical help.
He reported the incident to the police, who later discovered the women’s decomposing bodies in a pigsty.
Mathole described a horrific scene when he accompanied officers to the site, where he saw his sister’s body partially consumed by the animals.
According to the BBC, the incident has devastated the families of the victims, especially Makgato’s four sons, who range in age from five to 22.
Her eldest son, Ranti Makgato, tearfully told the BBC, “My mum died a painful death, she was a loving mother who did everything for us. We lacked nothing because of her.
“I think I’ll sleep better at night if the alleged killers are denied bail.”
South Africa’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has called for the farm to be shut down, declaring,
“The EFF cannot stand by while products from this farm continue to be sold as they pose a danger to consumers.”
The South African Human Rights Commission condemned the killings and urged for anti-racism dialogues to heal affected communities.
Farmers groups have expressed concern, claiming that they feel under attack in a country with a high crime rate, though there is no evidence suggesting farmers are at greater risk than others.
BBC reports that this case comes amid other racially charged incidents in South Africa, including the recent arrest of a farmer and his guard for allegedly killing two men in Mpumalanga, and another case involving a 70-year-old white farmer accused of running over a six-year-old boy for stealing an orange.
Eighteen-Eleven Media