South African farm worker accused of killing two black women and feeding their bodies to pigs has turned state witness, claiming he was forced to do so by farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adrian de Wet, 20, is one of three men facing murder charges after Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were killed on a farm near Polokwane in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province last year.
De Wet, a supervisor on the farm, will testify that Olivier shot and killed the two women, who were searching for soon-to-expire dairy products left for pigs.
De Wet claims he was under duress when he threw the women’s bodies into the pig enclosure. If the court accepts his testimony, all charges against him will be dropped.
The case has sparked outrage across South Africa, exacerbating racial tensions in the country. Most private farmland remains in the hands of the white minority, while most farm workers are black and poorly paid, fueling resentment among the black population.
The trial also involves William Musora, 50, a Zimbabwean national and another farm worker, and Olivier, 60. Both Musora and Olivier are yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars.
The three men face charges of attempted murder for shooting at Ms. Ndlovu’s husband, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and obstructing justice. Musora faces an additional charge under South Africa’s Immigration Act.
The Limpopo High Court was packed with supporters and relatives of the victims, as well as members of the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, which has previously called for the farm to be shut down.
Olivier’s wife was present in the courtroom, visibly emotional.
The trial was postponed to next week.
