By Everson Luhanga
Sifiso Mkhwanazi, who was found guilty of raping and killing six sex workers in the Johannesburg inner city, will undergo a mental evaluation before sentencing.
Scrolla.Africa broke the story about the crime.
Passing judgment in the Gauteng High Court in Palm Ridge on Wednesday, Judge Cassim Moosa found Mkhwanazi guilty of six counts of murder, six of rape, six of defeating the ends of justice, and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Mkhwanazi’s sentencing will be based on the results of his mental evaluation as the state has applied to determine whether or not he could be declared a dangerous criminal.
If the evaluation shows that Mkhwanazi has been declared a dangerous criminal and could repeat a similar crime on his release, he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
However, if found otherwise, Mkhwanazi will be sentenced to multiple life sentences that will run concurrently.
The state has applied for him to be sent to Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital to be examined and evaluated by professional mental health workers.
Mkhwanazi was arrested after the bodies of six women believed to be sex workers were found at his father’s panel-beating shop in the Johannesburg CBD.
When he was arrested in 2022 he was 21 years old.
During the trial, he admitted to killing the six sex workers.
Prosecutor Leswikane Mashabela said the motive to commit the crimes was to get revenge and punish the sex workers. This was reflected in an interview with Mkhwanazi’s father who spoke to Scrolla.Africa exclusively, soon after his arrest.
Mark Khumalo told Scrolla.Africa that his son was motivated by revenge. He had developed feelings of anger towards sex workers after he was arrested on a charge of rape in June 2021 and held for 10 months without trial.
“I only learned that he was arrested after a sex worker who he slept with opened a case at the police station,” Khumalo said at the time.
“My son couldn’t pay the full amount agreed with the sex worker which made the woman angry and so she laid rape charges against him.
“He was in police custody for 10 months waiting to be tried but I don’t know what happened to the case. He came out of prison a different person.”
Khumalo said his son had grown up as a peaceful young man who loved everyone.
“He was one of the sweetest people in the family. He was quiet, calm, and never spoke much.”
The case returns to court on 8 May.
Pictured above: The scene of the crime.
Image source: Everson Luhanga
