A FARMER AND HIS TWO EMPLOYEES APPEARED IN COURT FOR MURDER
Mankweng, South Africa – Three individuals, including farm owner and pig farmer Zachariah Johannes Olivier (60), farm supervisor Andrian Rudolph De Wet (19), and employee William Musora (45), a Zimbabwean national, appeared in the Mankweng Magistrates’ Court today for their bail application. They face serious charges, including two counts of premeditated murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. Additionally, Musora is charged with being an illegal immigrant.
The charges stem from an alleged incident that took place on 17 August 2024 at the Onvervaght farm, located within the Sebayeng policing area. It is reported that a Clover truck had dumped potentially expired goods, prompting the deceased, Locadia Ndlovu (35), a Zimbabwean national, and Maria Makgatho (44) of Shikotishing village near Makotopong, to trespass onto the farm to collect these goods. In a brutal act, the accused allegedly fired several shots at the victims, resulting in the deaths of the two women and injuries to a surviving male individual.
Following the shooting, the male victim managed to crawl to the main road where he received assistance and was transported to the hospital. The incident was reported to the police on 20 August 2024 when officers received information regarding the whereabouts of the deceased persons. Upon investigation, the police discovered the decomposed bodies of the victims inside the pigsty, leading to the arrest of the accused on 21 August 2024.
During the bail application hearing, the defence for Olivier requested access to his warning statement, while De Wet sought access to the contents of the case docket. The State opposed these applications, asserting that the accused were not entitled to the information for bail purposes. Consequently, the State noted an appeal against the ruling made by Magistrate Mr Arshad Chaya regarding Olivier’s application for access.
The matter has been postponed to 10 September 2024 to allow the appeal process to unfold and for a possible bail hearing. All accused individuals will remain in custody until the next court appearance. The NPA is committed to ensuring justice for the victims and their families, emphasizing that acts of violence will not be tolerated within our communities.
