A serial killer convicted of six counts of murder that took place between 2016 and 2017 was sentenced to six life terms plus 17 years’ imprisonment.
Delivering the sentence, Judge Derek Wille stated Brian Mudyiwayana deserved to be “permanently removed from society.”
He was found guilty of the premeditated murders of Moleboheng Mafata, Gladys Ntondini, Grace Nyasha Hondo, Naume Gwengwe, Lungelwa Dangatye and Michael Pekaan.
The Zimbabwean national was also convicted of one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances and two counts of the Contravention of the Refugees Act for being in the country without the necessary documentation. The High Court sitting at the Swellendam Magistrates’ Court acquitted him of a count of rape.Lured with false promises
Mudyiwayana reportedly went on a killing spree between 2016 and 2017, murdering five women and a man in Bredasdorp, Swellendam, Mossel Bay and De Doorns.
Ntondini’s remains were found in bushes on Kluitjieskraalplaas near Swellendam in November 2016. Hondo’s body was found in May 2017 near Bredasdorp.
The court heard that the female victims were either in a romantic relationship with the accused or lured by him with false promises of work.
Wille stated that gender-based violence in South Africa had reached pandemic proportions. He added: “In my view, an unambiguous message needs to be sent to the offenders. The circumstances of this particular case demand that the offender, for all practical purposes, is permanently removed from society.”No remorse
Senior state advocate Megan Blows called several witnesses to testify in aggravation of sentence, including Lieutenant Colonel Elmarie Myburgh, a veteran with 28 years experience in forensic investigation and investigative psychology. Myburgh declared Mudyiwayana as a serial killer motivated by power, control and excitement.
She submitted a report which states: “The accused is unwilling to accept responsibility for the crimes, blaming it on ‘muti’ he claims to have used. He has exhibited no empathy towards the victims and lacks remorse or guilt for his actions. His demeanour can be described as arrogant and dismissive.”
Advocate Blows thanked Warrant Officer Suzette Lourens and all other police officials involved for their sterling work. She also attributed the success of the matter to her late colleague Advocate Mornay Julius, who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Adv Nicolette Bell, applauded the court for the befitting sentence handed down to the accused. She further congratulated the police and the prosecution teams.
“Your work will continue to bring positive results and hope to victims of crimes and confidence in the justice system of this country,” she said.
“We express our condolences to the families of the victims of these heinous crimes. We know it’s been years since these incidents happened, your wounds have not yet healed but we hope you will find solace knowing that the accused has been sent to prison for a very long time.”