The case of two black women allegedly shot and fed to pigs by a white farmer and his workers has sparked widespread outrage in South Africa, BBC reports on Wednesday.
Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were reportedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane in Limpopo province when they were shot in August.
Their bodies were then allegedly fed to pigs in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The court is currently deciding whether to grant bail to the farm owner, Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, and his two employees, Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, as they await trial for murder.
None of the men have entered a formal plea yet.
BBC reports that protests erupted outside the courtroom in Polokwane, with demonstrators holding placards and demanding that the suspects be denied bail.
Inside the courtroom, families of the victims and the accused filled the benches as magistrate Ntilane Felleng allowed media coverage, citing public interest in the case.
The bail hearing was postponed to November 6, 2024, to allow for further investigations, meaning the three suspects will remain in custody.
Makgato’s brother, Walter Mathole, told the BBC that this incident has reignited racial tensions between black and white communities, particularly in rural areas.
Despite the end of apartheid 30 years ago, deep divisions remain in some parts of the country.
The three accused also face charges of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at Ndlovu’s husband, Mabutho Ncube, who managed to survive the attack.
Ncube said he reported the incident to the police, who later found the decomposed bodies of his wife and Makgato in the farm’s pigsty.
Protesters held up placards outside the courtroom in Polokwane demanding that bail be denied. Photo: BBC
According to the BBC, the incident has devastated the families of the victims, especially Makgato’s four sons, who range in age from five to 22.
Her eldest son, Ranti Makgato, tearfully told the BBC, “My mum died a painful death, she was a loving mother who did everything for us. We lacked nothing because of her.
“I think I’ll sleep better at night if the alleged killers are denied bail.”
South Africa’s opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, has called for the farm to be shut down, declaring, “The EFF cannot stand by while products from this farm continue to be sold as they pose a danger to consumers.”
The South African Human Rights Commission condemned the killings and urged for anti-racism dialogues to heal affected communities.
Farmer groups have expressed concern, claiming that they feel under attack in a country with a high crime rate, though there is no evidence suggesting farmers are at greater risk than others.
BBC reports that this case comes amid other racially charged incidents in South Africa, including the recent arrest of a farmer and his guard for allegedly killing two men in Mpumalanga, and another case involving a 70-year-old white farmer accused of running over a six-year-old boy for stealing an orange.
