South African farm worker claims he was forced to feed women to pigs.

A white South African farm worker accused of killing two black women claims he was forced to feed their bodies to pigs, according to lawyers.

Adrian de Wet is one of three men facing murder charges after Maria Makgato, 45, and Lucia Ndlovu, 34, were killed while allegedly searching for food on a farm near Polokwane in South Africa’s northern Limpopo province last year.

Their bodies were then allegedly given to pigs in an apparent attempt to dispose of the evidence.

Mr. De Wet, 20, turned state witness when the trial started on Monday and alleges that farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier shot and killed the two women.

Ms. Makgato and Ms. Ndlovu were searching for dairy products approaching expiration, intended for pigs, when they were killed.

Mr. De Wet, farm supervisor, will testify that he was under duress when compelled to dispose of their bodies in the pig enclosure, as stated by both the prosecution and his counsel. If the court accepts his testimony, all charges against him will be dismissed.

The case has sparked significant outrage across South Africa, exacerbating racial tensions in the country.

Such tensions are especially prevalent in rural areas, despite the termination of the apartheid system over 30 years ago. Most private farmland remains under the ownership of the white minority, whereas most farm workers, who are predominantly black, receive low remuneration, thereby intensifying resentment among the black population, and prompting many white farmers to express concerns about high crime rates.

South Africa outraged over farmer accused of feeding women to pigs. Is there a genocide of white South Africans as Trump claims? William Musora, 50, another farm worker, is the third accused. He and Mr. Olivier, 60, are yet to enter a plea and remain behind bars.

The three men 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 and obstructing justice for allegedly dumping the bodies in the pig enclosure in an attempt to conceal evidence.

Mr. Musora, a Zimbabwean national, faces an additional charge under South Africa’s Immigration Act over his status as an illegal immigrant. The Limpopo High Court was packed with supporters and relatives of the victims ahead of proceedings.

Also present was Mr. Olivier’s wife, who was seated in the front row of the public gallery and could be seen wiping away tears.

Members of the opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters, which has previously called for the farm to be shut down, were also present in the courtroom. The trial was postponed to next week.

Source: BBC