Limpopo Farm Owner Zachariah Olivier
By Lerato Mpembe
Limpopo farm owner Zachariah Olivier has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder in the Polokwane High Court, stemming from a horrific incident where two women were allegedly shot and their bodies fed to pigs. The 60-year-old farmer admitted guilt only to lesser charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm, unlicensed ammunition, and employing an illegal foreigner.
His co-accused, Zimbabwean national William Musora, denied all allegations, including murder and defeating the ends of justice. This high-profile trial, which resumed on Tuesday, has gripped the nation with its chilling details, as state witness Adrian de Wet – Olivier’s son – prepares to testify against his father. The case highlights ongoing issues of farm violence and immigrant worker rights in rural South Africa.
As proceedings continue, families of the victims seek justice for a tragedy that has left lasting scars on their communities.
The trial’s resumption draws attention to a story that shocked the country last year, with calls for stricter oversight on farms and better protection for vulnerable groups scavenging for food.
The Tragic Incident and Charges Against the Accused
The charges relate to events on 17 August 2024 at Olivier’s Onverwaght farm in Sebayeng, outside Polokwane. Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were allegedly shot dead while collecting expired food alongside Ndlovu’s husband, Mabutho Ncube, who survived the attack but was wounded.
Prosecutors claim Olivier and Musora killed the women, attempted to murder Ncube, and then disposed of the bodies in a pigsty, where pigs partially consumed them. The remains were discovered the following day, leading to the arrests.
Olivier and Musora face two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, and additional charges including defeating the ends of justice and Immigration Act violations for Musora’s undocumented status. De Wet, initially charged, turned state witness, providing key testimony that Olivier ordered the disposal of the bodies.
Olivier’s Plea and Court Statement
In his plea, Olivier denied the serious charges but admitted to the firearm-related offences and hiring an undocumented worker. Through his lawyer, Jacobus Venter, he detailed his version of events.
Olivier claimed he and De Wet were patrolling the farm on 17 August when they fired warning shots to scare off trespassers. “Immediately after both of us fired shots, Mr de Wet switched on his cell phone flashlight and started moving away from the area which I directed my warning shots at. He called me over to indicate that he found a body of a person lying face down,” Venter read from Olivier’s statement.
Shocked, Olivier said he panicked and left the scene, returning the next day with De Wet to move the body into an empty pig stall to protect it from pigs. On 18 August, Musora informed them of a second body nearby, which they also moved to the sty.
Olivier admitted to cutting up the rifles used and disposing of them in panic. He called Sebayeng Police Station two days later on 19 August. “I was scared and disgusted with the rifles and what had transpired,” the statement said.
Musora’s Not Guilty Plea and Claims of Duress
Musora, through his lawyer Desmond Nonyane, pleaded not guilty to all counts. He claimed he acted under duress, forced by Olivier and De Wet to help move the second body and keep quiet.
Musora’s defence argues he had no choice, fearing for his safety as an employee on the farm. This highlights vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers in rural settings, often without legal protections.
Victim Families’ Grief and Quest for Justice
The victims’ families expressed deep sorrow and a desire for accountability. Makgato’s mother, Moyahabo Mokgabo, said at court: “I can’t forgive them,” reflecting the pain of losing her daughter in such a brutal way.
Ndlovu’s husband, Ncube, survived but bears physical and emotional scars. Families hope the trial brings closure, amid broader calls to address farm attacks on trespassers scavenging for survival amid poverty.
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