Outrage in South Africa: Farmer and workers allegedly shoot two black women and feed them to pigs

The case of two black women who were allegedly shot and fed to pigs by a white farmer and two of his workers has sparked outrage in South Africa.

Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were reportedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province in August when they were shot.

It is alleged that their bodies were then disposed of by being given to pigs in an attempt to eliminate the evidence.

A court is set to determine whether to grant bail to farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, and his employees Adrian de Wet, 19, and William Musora, 50, before their murder trial.

The three men have not yet entered a plea in court, which will occur when the trial commences at a later date.

During previous hearings, protesters have gathered outside the courthouse, demanding that bail be denied for the suspects.

Walter Mathole, Ms. Makgato’s brother, told the BBC that the incident has intensified racial tensions between black and white individuals in South Africa.

These tensions are particularly prevalent in rural areas of the country, despite the abolition of the apartheid system 30 years ago.

The three men appearing in court in Polokwane also face charges of attempted murder for shooting at Ms. Ndlovu's husband, who was with the women at the farm, as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Mabutho Ncube survived the attack on the evening of Saturday, August 17, and managed to crawl away to call a doctor for assistance.

He reported the incident to the police, who discovered the decomposing bodies of his wife and Ms. Makgato in the pigsty several days later.

Mr. Mathole stated that he was with the officers and witnessed a horrific scene inside the pig enclosure: his sister’s body, which had been partially consumed by the animals.

The group had reportedly gone to the farm in search of edible food from batches of recently expired or soon-to-expire produce that were sometimes left at the farm to be fed to the pigs.

Ms. Makgato’s family expressed devastation over her death, particularly her four sons, who are aged between 22 and five years old.