List of serial killers in South Africa

A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them.[1][2] However, South Africa uses a more lenient definition of serial murder, defining it as, "The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events."[3]

Identified serial killers

Name Nickname / AKA Years active Proven victims Possible victims Status Notes Ref
Baninzi, Asande 2001 14 18 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice Mthutuzeli Nombewu, robbed and murdered people in the Cape Flats area [4]
Barber, Peter Roy The Laughing Killer 1973–1979 3 4 Executed in 1980 English immigrant who murdered his mistresses and a 12-year-old girl in Pinetown after arguments [5]
Basson, Pierre The Insurance Killer, South Africa's First Recorded Serial Killer 1903–1906 9 9+ Committed suicide to avoid apprehension Murdered people in Claremont, Cape Town so he could get their life insurance [6]
Brown, John Frank The Cross Dressing Killer(s) 1993–1995 5 5 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice and lover Jacques Coetzee murdered other gay men around Johannesburg [7]
Brandt, Brydon 1989–1997 4 5 Sentenced to life imprisonment Murdered prostitutes and his roommates in the Eastern Cape [8]
Burger, Cornelius 1936–1937 5 5 Died in a psychiatric facility Murdered prostitutes as revenge for contracting a venereal disease [9]
Coetzee, Jacques The Cross Dressing Killer(s) 1993–1995 5 5 Committed suicide in custody Together with accomplice and lover John Frank Brown murdered other gay men around Johannesburg [10]
Duma, Sibusiso 2007 7 7 Sentenced to life imprisonment Killed various people around Pietermaritzburg during robberies [11]
Kgabi, John Phuko The Ritual Killer 1974–1978 6 14 Executed in 1980 Former police officer who garroted and mutilated young girls in Atteridgeville and Limpopo [12]
Lineveldt, Gamal The Cape Flats Murderer 1940 4 4 Executed in 1941 Responsible for the "Cape Flats Murders"; bludgeoned to death white women around the Cape Flats area [13]
Maake, Cedric The Wemmer Pan Killer 1996–1997 27 27+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Serial rapist who murdered victims in the Wemmer Pan area [14]
Mabhayi, Bulelani The Monster of Tholeni 2007–2012 20 20 Sentenced to life imprisonment House intruder who murdered women and children in the village of Tholeni [15]
Majola, Simon The Bruma Lake Killer(s) 2000–2001 8 8+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice Themba Nkosi, known as "The Bruma Lake Killers"; robbed and drowned men in Bruma Lake [16]
Makamu, Fanuel The Mpumalanga Serial Rapist 2000 6 6 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice Henry Maile, robbed, raped and murdered women around Mpumalanga [17]
Maketta, Jimmy The Jesus Killer 2005 16 16 Sentenced to life imprisonment Murdered farm labourers in Philippi [18]
Makgae, Andries 2012–2013 3 4+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women around Onderstepoort; suspected in best friend's murder [19]
Makhubela, Dumisani Lotto Gangster(s) 2005 7 7 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice Johannes van Rooyen, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of four [20]
Mashiane, Johannes The Beast of Atteridgeville 1977–1989 13 13 Committed suicide to avoid apprehension Murdered his girlfriend; after release, raped and strangled 12 young boys around Atteridgeville [21]
de Melker, Daisy South Africa's First Convicted Female Serial Killer 1923–1932 3 3 Executed in 1932 Poisoned two husbands and her son with strychnine for life insurance [22]
Mfeka, Samuel Bongani The Kranskop Killer 1993–1996 6 6+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and strangled women around KwaZulu-Natal [23]
Mogale, Jack The West-End Killer 2008–2009 16 16 Sentenced to life imprisonment Kidnapped, raped and murdered women in southern Johannesburg [24]
Msomi, Elifasi The Axe Killer 1953–1955 15 15 Executed in 1956 Murdered people while he was supposedly under the influence of a Tokoloshe [25]
Mulaudzi, Mukosi Freddy The Limpopo Serial Killer 1990–2006 13 13 Sentenced to life imprisonment Murdered two people in 1990, then escaped from prison and resumed killing [26]
Ncama, Nicholas Lungisa The East Cape Killer 1997 6 6 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and strangled women around Port Elizabeth [27]
Ndlangamandla, Velaphi The Saloon Killer 1998 19 19 Sentenced to life imprisonment Robbed and murdered people during home invasions in Mpumalanga [28]
Ndlovu, Rosemary 2012–2018 6 6 Sentenced to life imprisonment Former policewoman who murdered her ex-partner and relatives for life and funeral insurance policies [29]
Ntsieni, Ndivhuwo The Univen serial killer 2014 5 5 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women and young girls in and around the University of Venda [30]
Nyauza, Richard The Quarry Killer 2002–2006 18 19 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women after being infected with HIV, dumping their bodies in a quarry [31]
Randitsheni, David The Modimolle Serial Killer 2004–2008 10 10 Committed suicide in prison Abducted, raped and murdered children in Modimolle [32]
van Rooyen, Gert 1988–1989 6 6+ Committed suicide to avoid apprehension Pedophile who, together with accomplice and wife Joey Haarhoff, abducted, raped and murdered six teenage girls whose bodies have never been found [33]
van Rooyen, Johannes Lotto Gangster(s) 2005 7 7 Sentenced to life imprisonment Together with accomplice Dumisani Makhubela, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of four [34]
van Schoor, Louis The Apartheid Killer 1986–1989 9 39+ 20 years; released in the 2000s and died a free man in 2024 Former policeman and security guard who killed black South Africans during alleged crimes [35]
Sedumedi, Khangayi The Century City Killer 2011–2015 4 6 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women around Century City and Kensington [36]
Sidyno, Samuel The Capital Park Serial Killer 1998–1999 7 7 Sentenced to life imprisonment Strangled teenagers and women, then disposed of their bodies near the Pretoria Zoo [37]
Sithole, Moses The ABC Killer 1994–1995 38 76 Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women around Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland [38]
Stander, Riaan 2001–2007 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment Murdered two prostitutes in Port Elizabeth after being released from prison for running over a woman with his car [39]
Sukude, Themba The Newcastle Serial Killer 2004–2005 4 4 Sentenced to life imprisonment Attacked couples around parks, raping the female and bludgeoning the male to death with rocks. He later switched to solely targeting men [40]
Taki, Thozamile The Sugarcane Killer 2007 13 13 Sentenced to life imprisonment Robbed and murdered women around KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, dumping their bodies in sugarcane and tea plantations [41]
Thwala, Sipho The Phoenix Strangler 1996–1997 16 16+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered women in sugarcane fields near Phoenix [42]
Vilakazi, Themba The Railway Killer 2005 3 5 Sentenced to life imprisonment Murdered black males around Pretoria [43]
Wilken, Stewart The Boetie Boer 1990–1997 10 10+ Sentenced to life imprisonment Raped and murdered prostitutes, young boys and his own daughter around Port Elizabeth [44]
Williams, Tommy The City Serial Killer 1987–2008 3 3 Sentenced to life imprisonment Strangled three acquaintances in varying circumstances; South Africa's longest active serial offender [45]
Xitavhudzi, Elias The Pangaman 1953–1959 16 16 Executed in 1960 Murdered and mutilated white women around Atteridgeville [46]
Zikode, Christopher Mhlengwa The Donnybrook Serial Killer 1994–1995 18 18 Sentenced to life imprisonment Necrophiliac house intruder who murdered people around Donnybrook, then had sex with the female victims' corpses [47]

Unidentified serial killers

Nickname Years active Proven victims Possible victims Region(s) where active Notes Ref
Cape Town Prostitute Killer 1992–1996 19 19 Western Cape Strangled prostitutes and domestic workers around Cape Town [48]
Fosaville serial killer 1999–2003 13 13 KwaZulu-Natal Abducted, bound and strangled women around Newlands East [49]
Sleepy Hollow Killer 1990s–2007 13 16+ Kwa-Zulu Natal (confirmed)
Free State, Eastern Cape (suspected) 		Raped and strangled women, mostly sex workers and prostitutes, using their own panties [50]

Suspected serial killers

Name Years active Proven Victims Possible Victims Region(s) where active Status Notes Ref
Afzal Simons, Norman 1986–1994 1 22 Cape Town Sentenced to 35 years imprisonment in 1995 Raped and strangled young boys with pieces of their clothing, their hands bound behind their backs, their shoes removed and their faces pushed into the sand. [51]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ronald M. Holmes; Stephen T. Holmes (1998). Contemporary Perspectives on Serial Murder. SAGE Publications. p. 1. ISBN 0-7619-1421-8. Retrieved 15 June 2016. Serial murder is the killing of three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a significant cooling-off period between the murders [...] The baseline number of three victims appears to be most common among those who are the academic authorities in the field. The time frame also appears to be an agreed-upon component of the definition.
  2. ^ Burkhalter Chmelir 2003, p. 1.
  3. ^ Smit, Sarah; Rupiah, Kiri (5 July 2019). "How to catch a serial killer – and why South Africa is good at it". Mail & Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
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  5. ^ "Triple killer Briton hangs". Liverpool Daily Post. 12 December 1980 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Marsh, Rob (2009). "Murdering for money, Pierre Basson: 1903". AfricaCrime-Mystery.co.za. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Dragnet catches she-male murder suspect". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 1996 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Pistorius, Micki (2012). "Brydone Brandt". Strangers On The Street - Serial homicide in South Africa. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0-14-352717-6.
  9. ^ Shaun, Smillie (29 June 2019). "Pretoria killings have similarities with Joburg's first serial killer". IOL. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Dragnet catches she-male murder suspect". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 1996 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Life in jail for Serial Killer". News24. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  12. ^ "Killer of 6 young girls in hanged in S. Africa". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 7 February 1980 – via Newspapers.com.
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  14. ^ "Serial killer jailed for 1,340 years". BBC News. 16 March 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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  16. ^ Retief, Hanlie (13 September 2011). "Dredging up the lake serial killers". The Saturday Star. Retrieved 24 November 2019 – via Independent Online.
  17. ^ Kuhlase, Zenzele; Mnisi, Oris (27 July 2004). "Serial killer gets 165 years". News24. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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  19. ^ Ilse De Lange (29 July 2016). "Serial killer gets three life terms". TheCitizen.
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  21. ^ "Serial Killers". A History of Madness: An Index of Serial Killers and Murderers. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  22. ^ Tomlins, Marilyn Z. (13 October 2009). "Daisy de Melker: South Africa's First Serial Killer". Crime Magazine.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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  24. ^ "West-End killer awaits sentencing". News24. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  25. ^ Louw, Leandi (6 August 2018). "South Africa's 3 Most Memorable Serial Killers". Medium.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  26. ^ "Limpopo serial killer case postponed". Independent Online. 11 October 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  27. ^ Mzimba, Stan (9 December 1997). "Serial Killer Suspect in Court". Daily Dispatch. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  28. ^ "'Saloon killer' gets 137 years for 19 murders". Independent Online. 19 September 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  29. ^ Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu gets six life terms for arranging hits on loved ones. Shange, Naledi. Sunday Times. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  30. ^ Nduvheni, Silas (27 May 2016). "Nine life sentences for Univen serial killer". Limpopo Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Killer gets 16 life terms". News24. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Serial killer found hanging by a sheet". Independent Online. SAPA. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  33. ^ Gallagher, Christina (7 April 2007). "Feared God but 'loved' young girls". The Star. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2018 – via Independent Online.
  34. ^ "Men sentenced to 445 years each". News24. 13 October 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  35. ^ Hollands, Barbara (31 October 2004). "Serial killer freed after 12 years in prison". Independent Online. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  36. ^ Rice, Catherine (9 June 2016). "Century City killer's modus operandi revealed". Independent Online. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Sadistic serial killer gets seven life terms". Independent Online. 5 September 2000. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  38. ^ Kendal, Rebekah (3 May 2007). "Worst criminals of SA". iAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  39. ^ Geldenhuys, Kotie (1 June 2016). "Serial killer creates fear among PE's sex workers: crime series". Servamus. 109 (6) – via Sabinet.
  40. ^ Feran, Bob (26 April 2006). "New 'powerful' tool in fight against crime". IOL. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  41. ^ "Sugarcane killer: Release her". News24. 2 March 2010. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  42. ^ "Crimes That Shook The World: The Phoenix Strangler". Discovery Channel: Crimes and Forensics. 2009. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  43. ^ Nkosi, Nomaswazi (6 August 2015). "'Why didn't Satanists help him?'". IOL. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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  45. ^ Maryna van Wyk (11 November 2009). "No mercy for serial killer". DFA.
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  47. ^ Hickey, Eric W. (23 June 2009). Serial Murderers and their Victims. Cengage Learning. p. 341. ISBN 978-0-495-60081-7 – via Google Books.
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  49. ^ "Who is the Newlands serial killer?". www.iol.co.za. 1 November 2003. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
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  51. ^ Tasneem, Adams (29 September 2022). "State should reopen 21 unsolved murders against 'Station Strangler'". Cape Talk. Retrieved 25 April 2023.

Bibliography