Court hears of grim discoveries in Joburg ‘serial killer' case
The murder trial of multiple murder and rape accused Sifiso Mkhwanazi has been rolled over to Monday in the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge.
Mkhwanazi faces six counts of murder, seven of rape, and six more for defeating the ends of justice after the bodies of six sex workers were discovered at his father’s Joburg workshop two years ago.
Earlier on Friday, the court ruled that the confession Mkhwanazi made to his father Mark Khumalo was admissible as evidence after conducting a trial-within-a-trial.
The defence had begun its cross-examination of Khumalo, who is the state’s second witness in the main trial.
Judge Cassim Moosa addressed Mkhwanazi on the adjournment.
“Council has indicated that he wants to move on to another point but he had indicated to the court that he was feeling unwell and would prefer that we take the adjournment slightly earlier than we would normally have.
“I think it’s a reasonable request and therefore in the circumstances, your matter then is postponed back to the High Court of South Africa Gauteng Division Johannesburg, Monday 12 February”.
The state earlier led Khumalo through photo evidence.
Earrings, women’s shoes, and used condoms were among some of the items found at the scene where the bodies of the six sex workers were discovered.
In his admission, Mkhwanazi said he placed the body of Patricia Magaiza in a drum full of old oil before removing it because it didn’t fit.
His father described the scene.
“In a corner, there were some earrings. When we looked around on the dry part, it looked like blood mixed with the oil,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo also said dead flies and sniffer dogs led investigators to a red Jaguar where no body was found, but there was clear evidence of decomposition.
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