In South Africa, outrage has erupted after murder charges against a white farm-worker, accused of being involved in the killing of two Black women, in August 2024, was dismissed by prosecutors.
Adrian de Wet, (above middle) was one of three men (two are white–and one Black) facing murder charges for the killing of the two women. Last year, Lucia Ndlovu, 34, and Maria Makgato, 45, were allegedly killed while looking for food on a pig farm around Polokwane, in the northern Limpopo province.
Despite the end of apartheid 30 years ago, most farms, like most of South Africa’s land, remains in the hands of the 8 percent white minority. Despite being 80 percent of the population, Black South Africans control little to no land.
After being killed, the bodies of the Black women were fed to pigs.
De Wet, 20, who turned state’s evidence, Monday said the farm’s owner murdered the women by shooting them. De Wet claims he was forced under pressure to throw the bodies to the pigs by farm owner Zachariah Olivier, 60.
Another farm-worker, William Musoro, 47, describe by police as “an illegal immigrant,” is a Black man. Musoro was also charged with “contravening sections of the illegal immigration act.”
Both Oliver and Musoro has not yet entered any pleas. Both remain locked up.
According to police, “The investigation began when a 45-year-old South African woman went missing after visiting the farm on 17 August (2024), accompanied by a 35-year-old foreign national woman. Both women sustained gunshot wounds, and a 47-year-old foreign national man, who was with them” escaped but “was also shot and hospitalized.”
Police say the decomposed bodies were found on Aug. 20, 2024 “in a pigsty on a farm in Sebayeng, outside Mankweng.”
The murders have sparked outrage across South Africa–and are inflaming racial tensions. The trial is set to continue on Oct. 6.
To Support our independent investigative journalism contributions are welcome via Cashapp to: $BlackStarNews
Also support Black Star News by buying merch from our brand new Black Star Store!
