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. 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."

Identified serial killers NameNickname / AKAYears activeProven victimsPossible victimsStatusNotesRefBaninzi, Asande20011418Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Mthutuzeli Nombewu, robbed and murdered people in the Cape Flats areaBarber, Peter RoyThe Laughing Killer1973–197934Executed in 1980English immigrant who murdered his mistresses and a 12-year-old girl in Pinetown after argumentsBasson, PierreThe Insurance Killer1903–190699+Committed suicide to avoid apprehensionMurdered people in Claremont, Cape Town so he could get their life insurance; South Africa's first recorded serial killerBrown, John FrankThe Cross Dressing Killer(s)1993–199555Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice and lover Jacques Coetzee murdered other gay men around JohannesburgBrandt, Brydon1989–199745Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered prostitutes and his roommates in the Eastern CapeBurger, Cornelius1936–193755Died in a psychiatric facilityMurdered prostitutes as revenge for contracting a venereal diseaseCoetzee, JacquesThe Cross Dressing Killer(s)1993–199555Committed suicide in custodyTogether with accomplice and lover John Frank Brown murdered other gay men around JohannesburgDuma, Sibusiso200777Sentenced to life imprisonmentKilled various people around Pietermaritzburg during robberiesKgabi, John PhukoThe Ritual Killer1974–1978614Executed in 1980Former police officer who garroted and mutilated young girls in Atteridgeville and LimpopoLineveldt, Gamal Salie194044Executed in 1942Bludgeoned four women to death in Cape Town Maake, CedricThe Wemmer Pan Killer1996–19972727+Sentenced to life imprisonmentSerial rapist who murdered victims in the Wemmer Pan areaMabhayi, BulelaniThe Monster of Tholeni2007–20122020Sentenced to life imprisonmentHouse intruder who murdered women and children in the village of TholeniMajola, SimonThe Bruma Lake Killer(s)2000–200188+Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Themba Nkosi, known as "The Bruma Lake Killers"; robbed and drowned men in Bruma LakeMakamu, FanuelThe Mpumalanga Serial Rapist200066Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Henry Maile, robbed, raped and murdered women around MpumalangaMaketta, JimmyThe Jesus Killer20051616Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered farm labourers in Philippi Makgae, Andries2012–201334+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Onderstepoort; suspected in best friend's murderMakhubela, DumisaniLotto Gangster(s)200577Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Johannes van Rooyen, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of fourMashiane, JohannesThe Beast of Atteridgeville1977–19891313Committed suicide to avoid apprehensionMurdered his girlfriend; after release, raped and strangled 12 young boys around AtteridgevilleMfeka, Samuel Bongani1993–199666+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and strangled women around KwaZulu-NatalMogale, JackThe West-End Killer2008–20091616Sentenced to life imprisonmentKidnapped, raped and murdered women in southern JohannesburgMsomi, ElifasiThe Axe Killer1953–19551515Executed in 1956Murdered people while he was supposedly under the influence of a TokolosheMulaudzi, Mukosi FreddyThe Limpopo Serial Killer1990–20061313Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered two people in 1990, then escaped from prison and resumed killingNcama, Nicholas LungisaThe East Cape Killer199766Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and strangled women around Port ElizabethNdlangamandla, VelaphiThe Saloon Killer19981919Sentenced to life imprisonmentRobbed and murdered people during home invasions in MpumalangaNdlovu, Rosemary2012–201866Sentenced to life imprisonmentFormer policewoman who murdered her ex-partner and relatives for life and funeral insurance policiesNomia Rosemary Ndlovu gets six life terms for arranging hits on loved ones. Shange, Naledi. Sunday Times. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.Ntsieni, NdivhuwoThe Univen serial killer201455Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women and young girls in and around the University of VendaNyauza, RichardThe Quarry Killer2002–20061819Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women after being infected with HIV, dumping their bodies in a quarryRanditsheni, DavidThe Modimolle Serial Killer2004–20081010Committed suicide in prisonAbducted, raped and murdered children in Modimollevan Rooyen, Gert1988–198966+Committed suicide to avoid apprehensionPedophile who, together with accomplice and wife Joey Haarhoff, abducted, raped and murdered six teenage girls whose bodies have never been foundvan Rooyen, JohannesLotto Gangster(s)200577Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Dumisani Makhubela, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of fourvan Schoor, LouisThe Apartheid Killer1986–1989939+20 years; released in the 2003 and died a free man in 2024Former policeman and security guard who killed black South Africans during alleged crimesSedumedi, KhangayiThe Century City Killer2011–201546Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Century City and KensingtonSidyno, SamuelThe Capital Park Serial Killer1998–199977Sentenced to life imprisonmentStrangled teenagers and women, then disposed of their bodies near the Pretoria ZooSithole, MosesThe ABC Killer1994–19953876Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Atteridgeville, Boksburg and ClevelandStander, Riaan2001–200733Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered two prostitutes in Port Elizabeth after being released from prison for running over a woman with his carSukude, ThembaThe Newcastle Serial Killer2004–200544Sentenced to life imprisonmentAttacked couples around parks, raping the female and bludgeoning the male to death with rocks. He later switched to solely targeting menTaki, ThozamileThe Sugarcane Killer20071313Sentenced to life imprisonmentRobbed and murdered women around KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, dumping their bodies in sugarcane and tea plantationsThwala, SiphoThe Phoenix Strangler1996–19971616+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women in sugarcane fields near PhoenixVilakazi, ThembaThe Railway Killer200535Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered black males around PretoriaWilken, StewartThe Boetie Boer1990–19971010+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered prostitutes, young boys and his own daughter around Port ElizabethWilliams, TommyThe City Serial Killer1987–200833Sentenced to life imprisonmentStrangled three acquaintances in varying circumstances; South Africa's longest active serial offenderXitavhudzi, EliasThe Pangaman1960s1616ExecutedUsed a panga (machete) to murder and mutilate women around AtteridgevilleZikode, Christopher MhlengwaThe Donnybrook Serial Killer1994–19951818Sentenced to life imprisonmentNecrophiliac house intruder who murdered people around Donnybrook, then had sex with the female victims' corpses

Unidentified serial killers NicknameYears activeProven victimsPossible victimsRegion(s) where activeNotesRefCape Town Prostitute Killer1992–19961919Western CapeStrangled prostitutes and domestic workers around Cape TownFosaville serial killer1999–20031313KwaZulu-NatalAbducted, bound and strangled women around Newlands EastSleepy Hollow Killer1990s–20071316+Kwa-Zulu Natal (confirmed)Free State, Eastern Cape (suspected)Raped and strangled women, mostly sex workers and prostitutes, using their own panties

Suspected serial killers +NameYears activeProven VictimsPossible VictimsStatusNotesDaisy de Melker1923–193213Executed 1932Accused of murdering two husbands and her son, but only convicted for her son's death.Norman Afzal Simons1986–1994122Released on parole in 2023Raped 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 Lists of serial killers

References

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