There are dozens of American cop shows and nearly all of them involve some terrifying and terrible serial killer as a major plot line at some point in the course of the show. Watching it on TV is one thing, but it is rather more chilling when we remember that these people are part of our ordinary society – even here in SA.

The Times have reported that the collective total headcount for the 11 most deadly serial killers in SA is over 200. While this is a scary number for 11 people, their reporting is rather sensationalist.

Their top five:

1. Moses Sithole aka the “ABC Killer” or “The South African Strangler” (38 murders) 1994-1995:

His sentence is made up of 12 years for each of the 40 rapes he committed, 50 years for each of the 38 murders and another 5 years for each of his six robberies. His sentences do not run concurrently. There will be no possibility of parole for at least 930 years.

2. Elifasi Msomi, aka “The Axe Killer” (15 murders) 1953-1955:

Elifasi Msomi blamed the tokoloshe  for the 15 murders he committed between 1953-1955, saying that it told him to kill his victims. […] He was hanged in Pretoria Central Prison on Friday, February 10, 1956

3. Jack Mogale aka “West-End serial killer” (16 murders) 2008 -2009:

Mogale faced 61 counts of rape, murder, kidnapping and attempted murder. He was found guilty of 52 charges – 19 of rape, 16 of murder, nine of kidnapping and attempted murder, among them. He was sentenced to 16 life sentences which are running concurrently. He was sentenced without the possibility of parole.

4. Christopher Mhlengwa Zikode, aka the “Donnybrook Serial Killer” (18 murders) 1994-1995:

Zikode committed five of the offences he was convicted of after he was released on R300 bail in August 1995.
Zikode was sentenced to five life and further sentences totalling 140 years in prison.

5. Sipho Thwala also known as the “Phoenix Strangler’’ (19 murders) 1996-1997:

He was acquitted of rape and murder charges in 1994 – the same year the first victim was found in a cane field.He was sentenced to 506 years in prison for the killings.

You can find their full list here. There is no doubt these are truly terrifying and disturbed individuals.

[Source: TimesLive]

[Source: SANews]