Pre-sentencing proceedings against convicted serial killer Mkhwanazi postponed
The case against convicted serial killer Sifiso Mkhwanazi has been postponed to the end of the month after his lawyer called in sick.
He appeared briefly in the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge on Thursday morning, where pre-sentencing proceedings were expected to continue.
“By agreement between the parties, your matter is then postponed back to the High Court in Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, to Wednesday, 28 August 2024 at 09:00, or shortly thereafter, where the matter shall be heard for pre-sentencing proceedings – which includes arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence,” Judge Cassim Moosa informed Mkhwanazi.
In March, the 21-year-old was found guilty on over 20 counts, including murder, rape, theft and defeating the ends of justice relating to the grim discovery of the decomposed bodies of six sex workers at his father’s Johannesburg car repairs workshop in October 2022.
ALSO READ:
Last week, social worker Xolile Budaza who assessed Mkhwanazi, took the stand and recommended that the court should not deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment.
Budaza presented her findings following five in-person consultations in which she details his childhood, his response to the murders, and his conviction.
In her report, the social worker found that Mkhwanazi targeted people from a marginalised group and profession and that he had not successfully mastered the psychological development stages that form an important part of personality formation.
She also found Mkhwanazi was not honest about the root cause of his serial crimes and that he was not remorseful.
“Based on this analysis and the findings by the forensic psychiatrist, it is indicative that the accused has not reached the level of remorse.
“Although he was able to share his feelings in relation to his actions, they were focused on him and how difficult it is to take another person's life.
“Therefore, deviation from the prescribed minimum sentence of life is not recommended as the accused seems to have suppressed a lot of unwanted experiences and emotions.”
