In a chilling turn of events in the Limpopo pig farm murder case, charges against 20-year-old farm supervisor Rodulph De Wet have been dropped after he agreed to testify as a state witness in the brutal 2024 killings of Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu.
De Wet was one of three men originally charged in connection with the murders, which shook the Onverwacht community when the women—reportedly scavenging for expired food—were gunned down and allegedly dumped in a pig enclosure to destroy evidence. Now, De Wet claims he acted under duress and has identified farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, as the shooter.
In light of his cooperation, the Polokwane High Court withdrew all charges against De Wet, a move the state believes will bolster its case against Olivier and co-accused William Musora, a 50-year-old Zimbabwean national. Musora also faces additional charges for allegedly violating immigration laws.
Reactions to De Wet’s release have been sharply divided. Some legal experts and activists argue the decision is a strategic necessity to secure convictions against those who allegedly orchestrated the crime. Others, however, are outraged that a participant in such a gruesome act could walk free, even if he provides crucial testimony.
As public scrutiny intensifies, the trial is set to resume on 17 October 2025, with Olivier and Musora facing charges ranging from murder and attempted murder to illegal firearm possession and defeating the ends of justice. With a key witness now inside the courtroom rather than the dock, the next phase of this harrowing case could reshape the path to justice.
