Sifiso Mkhwanazi has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of six Zimbabwean sex workers in Johannesburg. The South Gauteng High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, handed down the sentence following his conviction on multiple charges, including six counts of murder, rape, and defeating the ends of justice.
Mkhwanazi, 21, was also found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Judge Cassim Moosa described him as a dangerous individual who posed a threat to society. The victims' bodies were discovered at his father’s panel-beating business in Rosettenville in October 2022.
Throughout the trial, evidence showed the women had been bound, gagged, and strangled, leading investigators to conclude the murders were premeditated. The lead investigator, Bongani Mbonambi, argued that the killings were motivated by revenge due to an earlier rape allegation against Mkhwanazi.
However, Mkhwanazi's defense counsel claimed that he acted in fear after the women allegedly demanded more money than initially agreed upon. Judge Moosa, however, rejected this defense, questioning why Mkhwanazi repeatedly sought out sex workers if he feared arrest.
In South Africa, notorious cases of serial killers include figures like Moses Sithole, known as the "ABC Killer," and Rosemary Ndlovu, a former police officer convicted of multiple murders for insurance payouts.
- Moses Sithole: Known as the "South African Strangler" or "ABC Killer," Sithole committed the ABC Murders, killing at least 37 women and one toddler between 1994 and 1995. He was sentenced to 2,410 years in prison ¹.
- Norman Afzal Simons: Also known as the "Station Strangler," Simons was convicted of murdering 10-year-old Elroy van Rooyen in 1995. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and released on parole in November 2023 ².
- Rosemary Ndlovu: A former policewoman, Ndlovu was convicted of killing six people, including her live-in partner and five relatives, to collect life and funeral insurance policies. She received six concurrent life terms ³.
