South African serial killers in history
South Africa's dark criminal history has seen more than 160 serial killers put behind bars
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According to the crime stats for 2016/17, the murder rate in South Africa rose for the fifth consecutive year. But how many murderers are repeat offenders? And just how many go on to become serial killers?
Figures estimate that the number is now between 160 -180, given the rise of gang violence in both the Western Cape and Gauteng. There are some infamous names on this list, whose mention is enough to send a chill down the spine.
It’s around the Halloween period we’d like to remember that old saying: It’s not the walking dead we should be scared if. It’s those who are alive we should be worried about. This list is certainly conclusive proof…
South Africa’s worst serial killers:
10. Johannes Mashiane – The Beast of Atteridgeville
Charges:
13 counts of murder, 12 counts of sodomy from 1982–1989
13 counts of murder, 12 counts of sodomy from 1982–1989
Crimes:
He killed 12 boys by strangulation or stoning, and sodomised all of his victims. There is just one known survivor of Mashiane’s attacks.
He killed 12 boys by strangulation or stoning, and sodomised all of his victims. There is just one known survivor of Mashiane’s attacks.
Sentence:
Mashiane never made it to trial. He threw himself under a bus when being chased by police. ‘The Beast’ had previously served five years for killing his girlfriend in 1977.
Mashiane never made it to trial. He threw himself under a bus when being chased by police. ‘The Beast’ had previously served five years for killing his girlfriend in 1977.
9. Elifasi Msomi – The Axe Killer
Charges:
Convicted of 15 murders, from 1953 – 1955
Convicted of 15 murders, from 1953 – 1955
Crimes:
He killed a spate of young boys and women in an 18-month spree. He even murdered a woman in front of his mistress, then bottled her blood to give him ‘more power’. Unimpressed, she alerted the authorities.
He killed a spate of young boys and women in an 18-month spree. He even murdered a woman in front of his mistress, then bottled her blood to give him ‘more power’. Unimpressed, she alerted the authorities.
Sentence:
Msomi was sentenced to death by hanging at Pretoria High Court. The judge didn’t buy his defence of ‘being possessed by evil spirits’, and was executed in 1955.
Msomi was sentenced to death by hanging at Pretoria High Court. The judge didn’t buy his defence of ‘being possessed by evil spirits’, and was executed in 1955.
8. Elias Xitavhudzi – Pangaman
Charges:
16 counts of murder through the 1950s.
16 counts of murder through the 1950s.
Crimes:
You don’t have to be from Atteridgeville to be one of Mzansi’s most notorius serial killers. But it probably helps… Xitavhudzi, a black citizen during apartheid, used a machete (a panga, in local terms) to kill 16 white people in this strictly segregated society.
You don’t have to be from Atteridgeville to be one of Mzansi’s most notorius serial killers. But it probably helps… Xitavhudzi, a black citizen during apartheid, used a machete (a panga, in local terms) to kill 16 white people in this strictly segregated society.
Sentence:
He was given a death sentence in 1960, and was hung in November of that year.
He was given a death sentence in 1960, and was hung in November of that year.
7. Jack Mogale – West End Serial Killer
Charges:
16 counts of murder, 19 counts of rape, and nine kidnappings from 2008 – 2009.
16 counts of murder, 19 counts of rape, and nine kidnappings from 2008 – 2009.
Crimes:
In the guise of a Zion Christian Church preacher, he would earn the trust of his victims before seuxally assaulting and killing them. Mogale committed his crimes near his residence in Westonaria and Lenasia south of Johannesburg
In the guise of a Zion Christian Church preacher, he would earn the trust of his victims before seuxally assaulting and killing them. Mogale committed his crimes near his residence in Westonaria and Lenasia south of Johannesburg
Sentence:
In February 2011, Mogale was convicted for 52 of the 61 counts levelled against him, and is now serving life in prison.
In February 2011, Mogale was convicted for 52 of the 61 counts levelled against him, and is now serving life in prison.
6. Jimmy Maketta – The Jesus Killer
Charges:
16 murders, 19 rapes from April – December 2005
16 murders, 19 rapes from April – December 2005
Crimes:
He ritualistically attacked farm labourers from a hillside on Philippi, Western Cape.
He ritualistically attacked farm labourers from a hillside on Philippi, Western Cape.
Sentence:
He was described as psychopathic by a state psychiatrist, and given multiple life sentences by the Western Cape High Court.
He was described as psychopathic by a state psychiatrist, and given multiple life sentences by the Western Cape High Court.
5. Christopher Mhlengwa Zikode – Donnybrook Serial Killer
Charges:
Believed to be responsible for 18 murders, and 11 attempted murders between 1994-95.
Believed to be responsible for 18 murders, and 11 attempted murders between 1994-95.
Crimes: Zikode would force his way into homes, slaughter the male members of the family, and rape the female incumbents. Women who didn’t co-operate were killed and their corpses defiled by this necrophiliac killer.
Sentence: 140 years (five life sentences) for his abhorrent crimes in Donnybrook, KwaZulu-Natal.
4. Sipho Thwala – The Phoenix Strangler
Charges:
At least 19 murders, and 16 rapes between 1996 -1997.
At least 19 murders, and 16 rapes between 1996 -1997.
Crimes:
He promised the women of Mount Edgecombe (KZN) that he had employment opportunities. However, he lured his victims into sugarcane fields and proceeding to bind, strangle and bludgeon them. As one of the country’s more streetwise serial killers, he would burn the fields down to then cover his tracks.
He promised the women of Mount Edgecombe (KZN) that he had employment opportunities. However, he lured his victims into sugarcane fields and proceeding to bind, strangle and bludgeon them. As one of the country’s more streetwise serial killers, he would burn the fields down to then cover his tracks.
Sentence:
On March 31, 1999, the High Court in Durban found Thwala guilty and sentenced him to serve 506 years in Pretoria’s C-Max penitentiary.
On March 31, 1999, the High Court in Durban found Thwala guilty and sentenced him to serve 506 years in Pretoria’s C-Max penitentiary.
3. Norman Afzal Simons – The Station Strangler
Charges:
At least 22 killings have been attributed to him, but he was only charged for one at trial, along with one count of kidnapping
At least 22 killings have been attributed to him, but he was only charged for one at trial, along with one count of kidnapping
Crimes:
Simons worked as a school teacher, and abused his position of trust to murder and sexually assault his victims all aged between 9-13, from the coloured community. The Mitchell’s Plain murderer was himself a victim of serious sexual abuse when he was younger, and claimed ‘voices of his stepbrother’ told him to do it.
Simons worked as a school teacher, and abused his position of trust to murder and sexually assault his victims all aged between 9-13, from the coloured community. The Mitchell’s Plain murderer was himself a victim of serious sexual abuse when he was younger, and claimed ‘voices of his stepbrother’ told him to do it.
Sentence:
Simons is serving a 35-year sentence. 25 for murder, and 10 for kidnapping. Needless to say, this punishment from the Western Cape Magistrate was met with severe criticism for being too lenient.
Simons is serving a 35-year sentence. 25 for murder, and 10 for kidnapping. Needless to say, this punishment from the Western Cape Magistrate was met with severe criticism for being too lenient.
2. Cedric Maake – Wemmer Pan Killer
Charges:
At least 27 murders committed across Gauteng from 1996 – 1997
At least 27 murders committed across Gauteng from 1996 – 1997
Crimes:
Maake proved very difficult to stop, because of his changing MO. In some attacks, he’d bludgeon victims with rocks. In others, he’d shoot couples in their cars. He was finally arrested in December ’97.
Maake proved very difficult to stop, because of his changing MO. In some attacks, he’d bludgeon victims with rocks. In others, he’d shoot couples in their cars. He was finally arrested in December ’97.
Sentence:
He was convicted of 27 murders, 26 attempted murders, 14 rapes, 41 aggravated robberies and many more less serious offences. He is currently serving a 1,340-year prison term.
He was convicted of 27 murders, 26 attempted murders, 14 rapes, 41 aggravated robberies and many more less serious offences. He is currently serving a 1,340-year prison term.
1. Moses Sithole – The ABC Killer
Charges:
38 murders, 40 rapes, and six robbery offences. He’s officially the most prolific of all South African serial killers.
38 murders, 40 rapes, and six robbery offences. He’s officially the most prolific of all South African serial killers.
Crimes:
He murdered people in Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland regions, earning his ‘ABC’ moniker. This nasty bastard strangled women, usually with their own underwear, and scrawled the word ‘bitch’ on their corpses. He fooled his victims by staging elaborate “job interviews’ for a charity, which were merely a front for him to claim more lives.
He murdered people in Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland regions, earning his ‘ABC’ moniker. This nasty bastard strangled women, usually with their own underwear, and scrawled the word ‘bitch’ on their corpses. He fooled his victims by staging elaborate “job interviews’ for a charity, which were merely a front for him to claim more lives.
Sentence:
Moses Sithole is currently incarcerated in Manguang Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. In his trial, the judge ruled that all of Sithole’s convictions should run consecutively, meaning he racked up a 2,410 year sentence.
Moses Sithole is currently incarcerated in Manguang Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. In his trial, the judge ruled that all of Sithole’s convictions should run consecutively, meaning he racked up a 2,410 year sentence.
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