South Africa is known for its violence activities and killings being done by some of its serial killers.
Some of them were caught, and sent to prison for a long time.
DailySun looked at some of these cruel murderers since the dawn of democracy and the tactics they used to either kill and/or rape their victims.
1. Sipho Thwala
SIPHO THWALA – THE PHOENIX STRANGLER
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.
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.
2. Jimmy Maketta
JIMMY MAKETTA – THE JESUS KILLER
Charges:
16 murders, 19 rapes from April – December 2005
Crimes:
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.
3. Jack Mogale
JACK MOGALE – WEST END SERIAL KILLER
Charges:
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 sexually 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.
4. Cedric Maake
CEDRIC MAAKE – WEMMER PAN KILLER
Charges:
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.
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.
5. Moses Sithole
MOSES SITHOLE (THE ABC KILLER)
He is officially the most dangerous of all South African serial killers.
Number of charges faced:
He faced 38 murders, 40 rapes, and six robbery offences
Area of operation:
Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland regions
Modus Operandi:
He strangled women, usually with their own underwear, and then wrote the word ‘bitch’ on their corpses. He recruited his victims by promising them false job interviews.
Sentence:
He is serving a total of 2 410 years at Manguang Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, in the Free State.
