Tears and public outrage have erupted in South Africa after Adrian de Wet, one of the three men accused in a brutal double murder on a pig farm near Polokwane, walked free following the withdrawal of charges against him. The 20-year-old farm supervisor had faced accusations of helping to dispose of the bodies of Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, by allegedly feeding them to pigs.
The victims were reportedly killed in August 2024 after entering the farm in search of food a tragic consequence of ongoing poverty in rural Limpopo. According to prosecutors, farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, allegedly shot the two women, after which De Wet, under alleged duress, was ordered to dispose of their bodies.
As the trial began on Monday, De Wet turned state witness and provided testimony implicating Olivier in the killings. His lawyers argue he acted under threat and has since fully cooperated with authorities. Following this cooperation, the state withdrew charges against him, allowing him to leave court a free man on Wednesday. He will remain in protective custody for the duration of the trial.
Outside the courtroom, the pain was palpable. Walter Makgato, brother of one of the victims, broke down in tears and expressed anguish over the decision, saying justice for his sister had been compromised. “It feels like her life meant nothing,” he told the BBC.
The case has reignited national debate over racial inequalities in rural South Africa, where the legacy of apartheid still lingers. White farm owners continue to hold a disproportionate share of land, while black workers, like the victims, often face poverty and marginalisation. The racial element of the case has further inflamed tensions.
The remaining accused Olivier and another worker, William Musora, 50 remain in custody. Neither has entered a plea, and the trial is scheduled to resume on 6 October.
As the nation watches closely, many are left questioning whether justice will truly be served or if, once again, the system has failed the most vulnerable.
