The case involving the murder of two women on a pig farm has ignited widespread anger in South Africa, following the acquittal of a key suspect who claims to be a state witness.
Outrage Erupts as Acquitted Suspect in South Africa Pig Farm Murders Walks Free
Outrage Erupts as Acquitted Suspect in South Africa Pig Farm Murders Walks Free
The withdrawal of charges against a farm worker in a gruesome murder case highlights ongoing racial tensions in South Africa.
In a shocking turn of events, Adrian de Wet, a 20-year-old farm supervisor, has walked free after the state prosecutor officially withdrew charges against him in a case that has stirred deep emotional outrage in South Africa. De Wet was one of three men accused of the brutal killings of Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, who were allegedly searching for food when they were killed on a pig farm near Polokwane, Limpopo province last year.
According to prosecutors, the bodies of the two women were fed to pigs as a means of covering up the crime. During the trial, which commenced earlier this week, De Wet switched to testify as a state witness, claiming that the farm owner, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, was the one who shot the two women. Both the prosecution and De Wet’s legal counsel maintain that he acted under duress when compelled to dispose of the bodies into the pig enclosure.
While De Wet's attorneys assert that he has truthfully revealed the events surrounding the tragic night in August 2024, the sight of him leaving the court as a free man was too much for family and community members to bear. Walter Makgato, brother of one of the victims, expressed his despair to the BBC, stating that the decision signifies a profound failure of justice. Following his release, De Wet has been placed in protective custody until the conclusion of the trial.
The case has further exacerbated existing racial tensions in South Africa, a nation still grappling with the legacy of apartheid, which ended 30 years ago. The incident has reignited debates surrounding race relations, particularly in rural areas where the majority of farmland is owned by the white minority while black workers often face economic hardship. The trial is scheduled to continue on October 6, amidst the heightened anger and demands for justice across the nation.
