Moses Sithole

Moses Sithole (born 17 November 1964) is a South African serial killer and rapist who committed the ABC Murders. It is believed that he is so named because they began in Atteridgeville, continued in Boksburg and finished in Cleveland, a suburb of Johannesburg. However, many other sources state the cities were not in that order, rather beginning in Cleveland, continuing in Boksburg, and finishing in Atteridgeville. This has neither been confirmed nor denied.

Sithole murdered at least 37 women and one toddler between 16 July 1994 and 6 November 1995. Sithole was sentenced to 2,410 years imprisonment and is currently incarcerated in Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein. Sithole and his siblings spent the next three years in an orphanage, where he later said they were mistreated. By his own account, Sithole was arrested for rape in his teens and spent seven years in prison. At one point, President Nelson Mandela visited Boksburg in person to appeal for public assistance in apprehending the killer.

Trial and imprisonment After De Beer was subpoenaed, she testified at the Pretoria High Court where her evidence was key in the conviction of Sithole. On 5 December 1997, Sithole was sentenced to 50 years' imprisonment for each of the 38 murders, twelve years' imprisonment for each of the 40 rapes, and five years' imprisonment for each of six robberies. Since his sentences run consecutively, his total effective sentence is 2,410 years.

Justice David Curlewis ordered that Sithole would be required to serve at least 930 years before being eligible for parole, making him eligible for parole at the age of 963. The judge also told Sithole that if capital punishment was still used, he would have been sentenced to death. Sithole was incarcerated in C-Max, the maximum security section of Pretoria Central Prison. He is currently incarcerated in Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein.

Victims Full list of Sithole's victims Number Name Sex Age Date of Murder Notes 1 Marina Monene Monama F 18 16 July 1994 Disappeared on July 6, 1994 and body discovered on July 16, 1994. 2 Amanda Kebofile Thethe F 26 6 August 1994 In a relationship with Sithole at the time 3 Joyce Thakane Mashabela F 32 19 August 1994 Body discovered on August 19, 1994, in Pretoria West, Pretoria 4 Refiloe Amanda Mokale F 24 7 September 1994 5 Rose Rebothile Mogotsi F 22 18 September 1994 6 Unidentified victim F Unknown December 1994 Discovered on 3 January 1995 7 Beauty Nuku Soko F 27 January 1995 8 Sara Matlakala Mokono F 25 3 March 1995 9 Nikiwe Diko F 24 7 April 1995 Was raped with a stick; discovered 24 June 10 Letta Nomthandazo Ndlangamandla F 25 12 April 1995 11 Sibusiso Nomthandazo Ndlangamandla M 2 20 April 1995 Letta's son; incidental; injured in the head and died from exposure 12 Esther Moshibudi Mainetja F 29 12 May 1995 13 Granny Dimakatso Ramela F 21 23 May 1995 Discovered 18 July 14 Elizabeth Granny Mathetsa F 19 25 May 1995 Discovered 16 June 15 Mildred Ntiya Lepule F 28 30 May 1995 Discovered 26 July 16 Francina Nomsa Sithebe F 25 13 June 1995 17 Ernestina Mohadi Mosebo F 30 22 June 1995 18 Elsie Khoti Masango F 25 14 July 1995 Discovered 8 August 19 Josephine Mantsali Mlangeni F 25 17 July 1995 20 Oscarina Vuyokazi Jakalase F 30 8 August 1995 Discovered 23 August 21 Unidentified victim F Unknown 9 August 1995 22 Makoba Tryphina Mogotsi F 26 15 August 1995 Discovered 17 September 23 Unidentified victim F Unknown 28 August 1995 24 Unidentified victim F Unknown 30 August 1995 25 Nelisiwe Nontobeko Zulu F 26 4 September 1995 Discovered 17 September 26 Amelia Dikamakatso Rapodile F 43 7 September 1995 27 Unidentified victim F Unknown 12 September 1995 28 Monica Gabisile Vilakazi F 31 12 September 1995 Discovered 17 September 29 Hazel Nozipho Madikizela F 21 17 September 1995 30 Tsidi Malekoae Matela F 45 17 September 1995 31 Unidentified victim F Unknown 17 September 1995 32 Unidentified victim F Unknown 17 September 1995 33 Unidentified victim F Unknown 17 September 1995 34 Agnes Sibongile Mbuli F 20 17 September 1995 Discovered 3 October 35 Unidentified victim F Unknown 9 October 1995 36 Beauty Ntombi Ndabeni F Unknown 10 October 1995 Discovered 11 October 37 Unidentified victim F Unknown 14 October 1995 38 Unidentified victim F Unknown 6 November 1995