Families of the 2 women who were shot dead at farm and their bodies fed to pigs struggle to bury their loved ones

The community of Kotishing Village outside Mankweng, Limpopo, gathered on Sunday, 1 September, to bid a sorrowful farewell to Maria Makgato, 47, one of the two women brutally murdered on a nearby farm.

The funeral service, a somber occasion marked by grief and outrage, highlighted the devastating impact of the crime on the community.

Maria and her neighbour 34-year-old Locadia Ndlovu who is from Zimbabwe, were tragically killed on 17 August at Onvervaght farm in Sebayeng outside Polokwane. The women were known for scavenging for expired dairy products on the farm and were shot and killed before their bodies were allegedly fed to pigs by the farm owners.

Locadia's husband, Mabuto Ndlovu (44), was also shot and injured during the incident but he luckily escaped. The murders have sparked widespread condemnation, with civil society, human rights groups, politicians and religious leaders expressing their shock and disgust.

The Makgato family, deeply devastated by the loss of their matriarch, found themselves unable to even provide a coffin for Maria's burial.

Walter Mathole, Maria's brother, expressed the family's plight, highlighting the financial burden they are facing.

"The costs implicated in the burial are just too heavy for us to carry. We are unable to make ends meet at the moment while we are waiting for good Samaritans to assist us in any way whatsoever" said Mathole a few days before the burial.

The Ndlovu family, also struggling to cope with the loss of Locadia, have been forced to postpone her burial as they lack the funds to repatriate her body to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Bruce Ncube, Locadia's husband, who himself was shot and injured during the attack, spoke of the immense difficulties they face.

"I don’t know where to start because life in a foreign country has always been a struggle," said Ncube.

Advocate Kgaudi Morota, the chief executive officer of Black Forum South Africa, voiced his belief that the killings were racially motivated.

“We are going to be here all the way to assist these families to ensure that justice prevails throughout the trial. These farm killings are all over the country and stringent measures need to be placed to curb it,” said Morota.

Maria's family was fortunate enough to receive pledges and donations from individuals and the corporate world for them to bury their departed loved one. Speaking on behalf of Maria's family, Richard, her relative, pleaded with mourners not to abandon the family in their time of need.

“As I reflect on our family background, I realise we have been through trials and tribulations, but we never thought we would one day gather here to bury one of our own, killed like an animal. Marikie resembled her grandmother. She was a hard worker and a brave mother," said Richard.

He urged mourners to provide ongoing support to Maria's four sons, who are now left without their mother.

"It’s the first time the Makgato family experienced an incident of this nature. We therefore call on everyone here to continue showing support to Marikie’s children. Let’s be there with them on their healing journey. May this day not be the last time you set foot in this household to show support. Re kgopela thekgo ya lena le ka morago ga lehu (We ask for your support even after the funeral),” said Richard.

Maria's neighbour, Brenda Boima, described her as a hard-working mother who built her own house with her children.

"She made bricks with her own children. It’s not a surprise that she met her untimely death trying to get food for her children. As a neighbour and having lived and worked with Maria, I will look after her children when the need arises. We are deeply saddened and shocked at the manner in which she was killed. She did not deserve to die like that,” said Brenda.

Maria's oldest son, Theo (22), broke down as he recounted the events leading to his mother’s death.

“She was the only parent we had. Now that she is gone, I don’t know where we are going to turn to for support. She was taken away from us in a brutal manner. We no longer feel safe because we are alone. Our hearts are heavy, we can’t even begin to describe the pain,” he said.

On Friday, 30 August, the accused Zacariah Olivier (60), Adriaan De Wet (19) and William Musora (45) appeared before the Mankweng Magistrates Court for a formal bail application.

The court proceedings were tense, with a large crowd of concerned citizens, politicians, and members of various political parties packing the gallery. Emotions ran high as the accused entered the courtroom, with some members of the public expressing their anger and resentment.

The defence lawyers requested a postponement for the bail application, citing insufficient details regarding the case. The matter was postponed to September 10th.

While South Africans and Zimbabweans mourn the loss of Maria Makgato and Locadia Ndlovu, the families of the victims are facing the harsh reality of their financial struggles.

The Makgato family, despite the outpouring of public sympathy, had found themselves unable to afford the funeral costs for Maria. On the other hand, the Ndlovu family doesn't even know when they will afford to start the repatriation process so that Locadia can be buried in Bulawayo.

This highlights the immense challenges faced by families who are victims of violent crime, particularly those living in poverty.