Judgement in Sebayeng pig farm murder trial-within-a-trial reserved
The Polokwane High Court will on Thursday deliver judgement in the Sebayeng trial-within-a-trial.
The court will decide on the admissibility of an alleged confession by farm owner, Zachariah Olivier’s (61) into the main trial.
Olivier is accused of confessing to the murders of Maria Makgato and Lucia Ndlovu, who were allegedly shot and fed to pigs at Olivier’s farm, outside Polokwane two years ago.
The women were allegedly caught stealing expired dairy products from the farm.
The State maintains that the confession was made freely and voluntarily.
However, Olivier claims he was promised a lighter sentence by the investigating officer Captain Phaladi Makola and that his co-accused, Rudolf De Wet and William Musora will be released if he confessed.
Olivier said he agreed to the deal so that the two can take care of his businesses and unemployed wife while he remains behind bars.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS SUBMITTED BY STATE AND DEFENCE
During closing arguments on Wednesday, State prosecutor Advocate George Sekhukhune dismissed Olivier’s claims, arguing that the accused exaggerated his evidence by raising allegations that were never put to the investigating officer during cross-examination.
He also argued that Olivier’s constitutional rights were properly explained to him during his arrest, before the warning statement and the confession was written.
Sekhukhune said the accused chose to proceed without a lawyer despite his rights for legal representation being properly explained to him.
Meanwhile, defence advocate Jacobus Venter argued that the State failed to meet the legal requirements for the admission of the confession under Section 217 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“There are boxes that need to be ticked when dealing with a confession under Section 217. Firstly, it needs to be made freely and voluntarily, secondly, in sound and sober senses, and thirdly, without having been unduly influenced”, Venter said.
“My submission is that the State failed to satisfy the burden of truth in order for this document to be admitted.
He further argued that the confession should be ruled inadmissible.
The matter was postponed to Thursday, 9 July 2026 for judgment.
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