The family of Mariah Makgato, one of the two women who were brutally murdered at a Limpopo farm, is demanding justice. This follows the arrest of pig farmer Zachariah Johannes Olivier, farm supervisor Andrian Rudolph De Wet, and farm employee William Musora in connection with the murders.
The three suspects were taken into custody and charged with the murder of 47-year-old Mariah Makgato, a mother of four, and 34-year-old Zimbabwean national Kudzai Ndlovu, as well as the attempted murder of Ndlovu’s husband, who managed to survive the attack despite being shot.
The incident occurred on August 17, 2024, at the Onvervaght farm in the Sebayeng policing area. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), a Clover truck had dumped goods that were either expired or close to expiring. Makgato and Ndlovu, along with Ndlovu’s husband, entered the farm to collect these goods when they were fired upon by Olivier and De Wet. Ndlovu’s husband managed to escape despite his injuries, but both women were killed on the spot.
Mariah Makgato’s brother, Walter Mathole, expressed his grief and frustration to the media, saying, “I went to the farm asking if they had seen my sister, but they did not provide me with any helpful information. I also asked the workers, but they said they were not at work when the incident happened.” Mathole further revealed that a neighbor had informed him of hearing gunshots. He added, “We have lost so much. My sister’s children are now orphans, and it will be my duty to take care of them. I need help and want the accused to be denied bail.”
The NPA spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, provided additional details, stating that Olivier and De Wet had planned to shoot any community members who trespassed onto the farm. “The accused fired several shots at the community members, killing two women and wounding the surviving male witness,” Malabi-Dzhangi explained. “The male victim crawled to the main road, where he was assisted and transported to the hospital.”
Following the shooting, Musora, who was also charged with being in South Africa illegally, arrived at the farm the next day and discovered the bodies of the deceased women. Instead of reporting the discovery to the authorities, Musora informed Olivier and De Wet. The three men allegedly moved the bodies to the pig stalls, where the pigs began consuming one of the bodies. Olivier is accused of disposing of the firearm used in the crime along the R80 road and failing to report the incident until August 20.
The three men have been charged with two counts of premeditated murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. Their case has been postponed to August 30 for profiling, and they remain in custody.
As the investigation continues, the community and the family of the victims are calling for justice to be served. The tragic incident has left a trail of grief and shock, with many expressing their condolences to the families affected by this senseless act of violence.