South African Farm Worker Claims Coercion in Gruesome Murder Case

The trial of three men for the alleged murder of two women in South Africa has taken a shocking turn as a co-accused claims he was forced to feed their bodies to pigs. The case has reignited racial tensions in a country still grappling with its apartheid legacy.

Adrian de Wet, a 20-year-old farm worker, has turned state witness in a chilling murder trial that has captivated South Africa. He claims that farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier shot two women—Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34—who were foraging for soon-to-expire dairy products intended for pigs. This incident allegedly took place last year on a farm near Polokwane in Limpopo province.

In a dramatic revelation, De Wet's defense attorney asserts that he faced severe threats, forcing him to help dispose of the women’s bodies by feeding them to pigs. His testimony, if accepted by the court, could result in the dismissal of all charges against him. Alongside Olivier, De Wet is one of the three charged with murder, while another farm worker, William Musora, also faces an additional charge under the Immigration Act due to his undocumented status.

The brutal nature of the crime and the racial dynamics involved have ignited widespread anger across South Africa. Racial tensions remain heightened in rural areas, as historical inequalities persist decades after the end of apartheid. The predominance of land ownership by the white minority over a largely black labor force continues to furiously fuel resentment.

As the trial unfolds, it has drawn attention from various sectors of society. The Limpopo High Court was packed with family, friends, and supporters of the victims, as well as members from the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who have previously called for the farm's closure. De Wet's upcoming testimony may change the trajectory of the trial, which has been postponed until next week.