List of serial killers in South Africa
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{{incomplete list|date=January 2025}}
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.{{cite book|author=Ronald M. Holmes |author2=Stephen T. Holmes |title = Contemporary Perspectives on Serial Murder | publisher = SAGE Publications | year = 1998 | page = 1 | access-date = 15 June 2016 |isbn = 0-7619-1421-8| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=0yfoJz6jHwkC&pg=PA1|quote=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.}}{{sfn|Burkhalter Chmelir|2003|p=1}} 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."{{Cite web |last1=Smit |first1=Sarah |last2=Rupiah |first2=Kiri |date=5 July 2019 |title=How to catch a serial killer – and why South Africa is good at it |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-05-00-how-to-catch-a-serial-killer-and-why-south-africa-is-good-at-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128201648/https://mg.co.za/article/2019-07-05-00-how-to-catch-a-serial-killer-and-why-south-africa-is-good-at-it/ |archive-date=28 January 2022 |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}
Identified serial killers
| class="wikitable sortable"
!width="200px"|Name !Nickname / AKA!! width="100px" |Years active!!data-sort-type="number"|Proven victims!!data-sort-type="number"|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 |
| 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 |
| Basson, Pierre
|The Insurance Killer |1903–1906 |9 |9+ |Committed suicide to avoid apprehension |Murdered people in Claremont, Cape Town so he could get their life insurance; South Africa's first recorded serial killer |
| 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 |{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104523731/samuel-coetzee-and-john-brown/|title=Dragnet catches she-male murder suspect|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 April 1996|via=Newspapers.com}} |
| Brandt, Brydon
| |1989–1997 |4 |5 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Murdered prostitutes and his roommates in the Eastern Cape |{{Cite book |last=Pistorius |first=Micki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fYwlxYX6TBwC |title=Strangers On The Street - Serial homicide in South Africa |publisher=Penguin Random House |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-14-352717-6 |language=en |chapter=Brydone Brandt }} |
| Burger, Cornelius
| |1936–1937 |5 |5 |Died in a psychiatric facility |Murdered prostitutes as revenge for contracting a venereal disease |{{Cite web |last=Shaun |first=Smillie |date=29 June 2019 |title=Pretoria killings have similarities with Joburg's first serial killer |url=https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/pretoria-killings-have-similarities-with-joburgs-first-serial-killer-28064859 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230322011157/https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/pretoria-killings-have-similarities-with-joburgs-first-serial-killer-28064859 |archive-date=22 March 2023 |access-date=21 March 2023 |website=IOL}} |
| 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 |{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104523731/samuel-coetzee-and-john-brown/|title=Dragnet catches she-male murder suspect|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=16 April 1996|via=Newspapers.com}} |
| Duma, Sibusiso
| |2007 |7 |7 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Killed various people around Pietermaritzburg during robberies |{{Cite web |url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Life-in-jail-for-serial-killer-20090817 |title=Life in jail for Serial Killer |date=2009-08-17 |website=News24 |access-date=2010-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920180328/http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Life-in-jail-for-serial-killer-20090817 |archive-date=20 September 2012 }} |
| 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 |{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104523333/john-phuko-kgabi/|title=Killer of 6 young girls in hanged in S. Africa|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=7 February 1980|via=Newspapers.com}} |
| 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 |
| Maake, Cedric
|The Wemmer Pan Killer |1996–1997 |27 |27+ |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Serial rapist who murdered victims in the Wemmer Pan area |
| 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 |
| 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 |{{Cite news |url=https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/dredging-up-the-lake-serial-killers-1136700 |title=Dredging up the lake serial killers |first=Hanlie |last=Retief |date=13 September 2011 |newspaper=The Saturday Star |access-date=24 November 2019 |via=Independent Online}} |
| 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 |{{cite web |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Serial-killer-gets-165-years-20040727 |title=Serial killer gets 165 years |first1=Zenzele |last1=Kuhlase |first2=Oris |last2=Mnisi |date=27 July 2004 |website=News24 |access-date=24 November 2019}} |
| Maketta, Jimmy
|The Jesus Killer |2005 |16 |16 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Murdered farm labourers in Philippi |
| Makgae, Andries
| |2012–2013 |3 |4+ |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and murdered women around Onderstepoort; suspected in best friend's murder |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| de Melker, Daisy
| |1923–1932 |3 |3 |Executed in 1932 |Poisoned two husbands and her son with strychnine for life insurance; South Africa's first convicted female serial killer |
| Mfeka, Samuel Bongani
|The Kranskop Killer |1993–1996 |6 |6+ |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and strangled women around KwaZulu-Natal |
| Mogale, Jack
|The West-End Killer |2008–2009 |16 |16 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Kidnapped, raped and murdered women in southern Johannesburg |
| Msomi, Elifasi
|The Axe Killer |1953–1955 |15 |15 |Executed in 1956 |Murdered people while he was supposedly under the influence of a Tokoloshe |{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@LeandiLouw/south-africas-3-most-memorable-serial-killers-560c5b7a6f1a |title=South Africa's 3 Most Memorable Serial Killers |first=Leandi |last=Louw |date=6 August 2018 |website=Medium.com |access-date=24 November 2019}} |
| 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 |{{cite web |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/limpopo-serial-killer-case-postponed-297239 |title=Limpopo serial killer case postponed |date=11 October 2006 |website=Independent Online |access-date=24 November 2019}} |
| Ncama, Nicholas Lungisa
|The East Cape Killer |1997 |6 |6 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and strangled women around Port Elizabeth |{{Cite web |url=http://www.dispatch.co.za/1997/12/09/page%201.htm |title=Serial Killer Suspect in Court |first=Stan |last=Mzimba |date=9 December 1997 |newspaper=Daily Dispatch |access-date=24 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501154307/http://www.dispatch.co.za/1997/12/09/page%201.htm |archive-date=1 May 2008}} |
| Ndlangamandla, Velaphi
|The Saloon Killer |1998 |19 |19 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Robbed and murdered people during home invasions in Mpumalanga |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Randitsheni, David
|The Modimolle Serial Killer |2004–2008 |10 |10 |Committed suicide in prison |Abducted, raped and murdered children in Modimolle |
| 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 |{{cite news |url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/he-feared-god-but-loved-young-girls-1.322079 |title=Feared God but 'loved' young girls |last=Gallagher |first=Christina |date=7 April 2007 |newspaper=The Star |via=Independent Online |access-date=10 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918005419/http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/he-feared-god-but-loved-young-girls-1.322079 |archive-date=18 September 2015}} |
| 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 |
| van Schoor, Louis
|The Apartheid Killer |1986–1989 |9 |39+ |20 years; released in the 2003 and died a free man in 2024 |Former policeman and security guard who killed black South Africans during alleged crimes |
| Sedumedi, Khangayi
|The Century City Killer |2011–2015 |4 |6 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and murdered women around Century City and Kensington |
| 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 |
| Sithole, Moses
|The ABC Killer |1994–1995 |38 |76 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and murdered women around Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Thwala, Sipho
|The Phoenix Strangler |1996–1997 |16 |16+ |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Raped and murdered women in sugarcane fields near Phoenix |
| Vilakazi, Themba
|The Railway Killer |2005 |3 |5 |Sentenced to life imprisonment |Murdered black males around Pretoria |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Xitavhudzi, Elias
|The Pangaman |1953–1959 |16 |16 |Executed in 1960 |Murdered and mutilated white women around Atteridgeville |
| 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 |
Unidentified serial killers
Suspected serial killers
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Name !Years active !Proven Victims !Possible Victims !Region(s) where active !Status !Notes !Ref |
| Afzal Simons, Norman
|1986–1994 |1 |22 |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. |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{Cite encyclopedia |last=Burkhalter Chmelir |first=Sandra |editor=Robert Kastenbaum |encyclopedia=Macmillan Encyclopedia of Death and Dying |title=Serial Killers |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5214/is_2003/ai_n19132282?tag=content;col1 |year=2003 |publisher=Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson/Gale |volume=2 |location=New York |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503121235/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5214/is_2003/ai_n19132282/?tag=content;col1 |archive-date=3 May 2009 |access-date=18 February 2018 }}
- {{Cite web |last=Morton |first=RJ |url=https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder/serial-murder-july-2008-pdf|format=PDF|title= Serial murder multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|year= 2005|access-date= 16 July 2011 }}
- {{cite book |last=Hollandsworth |first=Skip |edition= 1st |date=2015 |title=The Midnight Assassin |page=81 |location=New York |publisher=Henry Holt |isbn=978-0-8050-9767-2}}
- {{Cite book|last=Lane|first=Brian|author2=Gregg, Wilfred|title=The Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers|orig-date=1992|year=1995|publisher=Berkley Book|location=New York City|isbn=0-425-15213-8|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofse00lane}}
{{refend}}