“Finding pigs feasting on my mom’s remains shattered me,” says son

Ranti Makgato (21), whose mother was killed on a farm in Limpopo before being fed to pigs, says nothing shattered him like finding animals chewing on his mother’s body.

Maria Makgato (44) and Locadia Ndlovu (35) were shot and killed at Onvervaght near Kotishing village in Makotopong and had their decomposed bodies thrown into a pigsty.

It is reported that a Clover truck had dumped potentially expired goods at the farm for the pigs and the two women, who were with Ndlovu’s husband, had gone there looking for the expired food – when they were met by several bullets.

Ndlovu’s husband managed to escape the scene with a gunshot wound and ended up in hospital, where he alerted the police of the incident.

Makgato’s son says it seems that the alleged killers were trying to get rid of the evidence when they fed the decomposed bodies to the pigs.

“The way they threw them into the pigsty, they wanted the pigs to eat their flesh and only leave bones so that they could discard them.”

“When I heard that there were people who were shot by the farm, I started getting worried. I went to check all the hospitals and at that time I couldn’t find my mother, that’s when I went to the police,” he explains.

The 21-year-old says he is the eldest son, and he doesn’t know how he will take care of his younger siblings, with the youngest one aged five.

He has also pleaded with the court to not grant the suspects bail, saying they won’t feel safe.

Makgato believes that if they could kill his mother in that manner, they surely won’t spare her kids.

Zachariah Olivier (60), his two employees Andrian de Wet (19) and William Musora (45) appeared in the Mankweng Magistrates Court today.

The matter has been postponed to the 10th of September for a possible formal bail application.

“They face serious charges, including two counts of premeditated murder, one count of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and defeating the ends of justice. Additionally, Musora is charged with violating the Immigration Act.”

Meanwhile, a commissioner at the South African Rights Commission, Sandra Makoasha, has expressed shock that 30 years into democracy, the country is still facing such crimes.

Makoasha says it’s unfortunate that women continue to be the face of poverty and in this particular case – they even lost their lives while trying to fend for themselves.

“We have lost two women, mothers and daughters in this instance and unfortunately we have not as a collective, including various stakeholders and the Human Right Commission itself have discussions about how to alleviate poverty in our society.”

“To alleviate poverty is a collective effort and all parties must come to the table and have that discussion.”

Like Makgato, Makoasha also wants the suspects not to be granted bail.

“We hope that when the magistrate is considering the factors that are going to be placed before the court by the defence and well as by the prosecutor, he will arrive at a just and equitable outcome. He also needs to take into account the community and the public outcry and what people are saying about this type of crime.”

A number of supporters from various political parties and community members gathered outside the Mankweng court in support of the families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy that’s a stark reminder of the violent and dilapidating nature of poverty, that people even resort to eating food fed to pigs.

#COSATU Limpopo is participating in a picket at the Mankweng Magistrate Court against a white farmer who shot and killed two women & hid them in a pigsty@CapricornFMNews@KoketsoMotau_@moloko_moloto@SAPoliceService@eNCA@NPA_Prosecutes@Newzroom405@SABCNews@ThobelaFMYaka pic.twitter.com/J6LPQTQuF5

— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) August 30, 2024