Limpopo, South Africa — Emotions ran high outside the Limpopo High Court on Thursday as friends and family of the late Sipho Mokoena broke down in tears after the court acquitted the man accused of his brutal murder at a local pig farm.
Mokoena, a 36-year-old farmworker, was found dead last year in what many described as a racially charged and gruesome incident. His battered body was discovered near pig pens on the outskirts of Polokwane, sparking national outrage and calls for justice. Activists and family members claimed he was tortured before being killed.
The accused, Johan du Toit, a 48-year-old farm owner, was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with murder. But in a shocking turn of events, the judge ruled on Thursday that there was insufficient evidence to convict him, citing inconsistencies in witness testimonies and a lack of forensic clarity.
The verdict triggered widespread outrage both inside and outside the courtroom. Protesters who had gathered outside held placards reading “Justice for Sipho” and “Black Lives Still Matter,” chanting angrily as police tried to maintain order.
"We are heartbroken. This is not justice. This is a system that keeps failing Black people," said Thandi Mokoena, the victim’s sister, fighting back tears. "My brother's life meant something. And today, that was ignored."
Civil society groups, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and #JusticeForSipho movement, have called for an urgent review of the case and say they will appeal to the National Prosecuting Authority to reopen the investigation.
"The justice system continues to protect the powerful while the poor are left to mourn in silence," said activist Kabelo Mhlongo. “We will not rest until Sipho gets the justice he deserves.”
The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the public response to the verdict.
As night fell, mourners lit candles at the gates of the pig farm where Sipho once worked—marking what many fear is yet another painful chapter in South Africa's long struggle with racial injustice and inequality.
By: On The Line24, August 7, 2025
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