List of South Africa’s most notorious serial killers

Asande Baninzi20011418Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Mthutuzeli Nombewu, robbed and murdered people in the Cape Flats areaPeter Roy BarberThe Laughing Killer1973–197934Executed in 1980English immigrant who murdered his mistresses and a 12-year-old girl in Pinetown after argumentsPierre BassonThe 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 killerJohn Frank BrownThe Cross Dressing Killer(s)1993–199555Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice and lover Jacques Coetzee murdered other gay men around JohannesburgBrydon Brandt 1989–199745Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered prostitutes and his roommates in the Eastern CapeCornelius Burger1936–193755Died in a psychiatric facilityMurdered prostitutes as revenge for contracting a venereal diseaseJacques CoetzeeThe Cross Dressing Killer(s)1993–199555Committed suicide in custodyTogether with accomplice and lover John Frank Brown murdered other gay men around JohannesburgSibusiso Duma 200777Sentenced to life imprisonmentKilled various people around Pietermaritzburg during robberiesJohn Phuko KgabiThe Ritual Killer1974–1978614Executed in 1980Former police officer who garroted and mutilated young girls in Atteridgeville and LimpopoGamal Salie Lineveldt194044Executed in 1942Bludgeoned four women to death in Cape TownCedric Maake The Wemmer Pan Killer1996–19972727+Sentenced to life imprisonmentSerial rapist who murdered victims in the Wemmer Pan areaBulelani MabhayiThe Monster of Tholeni2007–20122020Sentenced to life imprisonmentHouse intruder who murdered women and children in the village of TholeniSimon MajolaThe 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 LakeFanuel MakamuThe Mpumalanga Serial Rapist200066Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Henry Maile, robbed, raped and murdered women around MpumalangaJimmy MakettaThe Jesus Killer20051616Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered farm labourers in PhilippiAndries Makgae2012–201334+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Onderstepoort; suspected in best friend’s murderDumisani MakhubelaLotto Gangster(s)200577Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Johannes van Rooyen, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of fourJohannes Mashiane The Beast of Atteridgeville1977–19891313Committed suicide to avoid apprehensionMurdered his girlfriend; after release, raped and strangled 12 young boys around AtteridgevilleSamuel Bongani Mfeka1993–199666+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and strangled women around KwaZulu-NatalJack MogaleThe West-End Killer2008–20091616Sentenced to life imprisonmentKidnapped, raped and murdered women in southern JohannesburgElifasi MsomiThe Axe Killer1953–19551515Executed in 1956Murdered people while he was supposedly under the influence of a TokolosheMukosi Freddy MulaudziThe Limpopo Serial Killer1990–20061313Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered two people in 1990, then escaped from prison and resumed killingNicholas Lungisa NcamaThe East Cape Killer199766Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and strangled women around Port ElizabethVelaphi NdlangamandlaThe Saloon Killer19981919Sentenced to life imprisonmentRobbed and murdered people during home invasions in MpumalangaRosemary Ndlovu2012–201866Sentenced to life imprisonmentFormer policewoman who murdered her ex-partner and relatives for life and funeral insurance policiesNdivhuwo NtsieniThe Univen serial killer201455Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women and young girls in and around the University of VendaRichard NyauzaThe Quarry Killer2002–20061819Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women after being infected with HIV, dumping their bodies in a quarryDavid RanditsheniThe Modimolle Serial Killer2004–20081010Committed suicide in prisonAbducted, raped and murdered children in ModimolleGert van Rooyen1988–198966+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 foundJohannes van RooyenLotto Gangster(s)200577Sentenced to life imprisonmentTogether with accomplice Dumisani Makhubela, robbed, raped and murdered people around Mpumalanga, including a family of fourLouis van SchoorThe 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 crimesKhangayi SedumediThe Century City Killer2011–201546Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Century City and KensingtonSamuel SidynoThe Capital Park Serial Killer1998–199977Sentenced to life imprisonmentStrangled teenagers and women, then disposed of their bodies near the Pretoria ZooMoses SitholeThe ABC Killer1994–19953876Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women around Atteridgeville, Boksburg and ClevelandRiaan Stander2001–200733Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered two prostitutes in Port Elizabeth after being released from prison for running over a woman with his carThemba SukudeThe 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 menThozamile TakiThe Sugarcane Killer20071313Sentenced to life imprisonmentRobbed and murdered women around KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape, dumping their bodies in sugarcane and tea plantationsSipho ThwalaThe Phoenix Strangler1996–19971616+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered women in sugarcane fields near PhoenixThemba VilakaziThe Railway Killer200535Sentenced to life imprisonmentMurdered black males around PretoriaStewart WilkenThe Boetie Boer1990–19971010+Sentenced to life imprisonmentRaped and murdered prostitutes, young boys and his own daughter around Port ElizabethTommy Williams The City Serial Killer1987–200833Sentenced to life imprisonmentStrangled three acquaintances in varying circumstances; South Africa’s longest active serial offenderElias XitavhudziThe Pangaman1960s1616ExecutedUsed a panga (machete) to murder and mutilate women around AtteridgevilleChristopher Mhlengwa ZikodeThe Donnybrook Serial Killer1994–19951818Sentenced to life imprisonmentNecrophiliac house intruder who murdered people around Donnybrook, then had sex with the female victims’ corpses