Petrus Madiba

Case record: Petrus Madiba

Background

Petrus Madiba was a 29-year-old farmworker who was described as a serial killer. He was accused of killing eight women and a baby. He assaulted and robbed his victims, and one of the women was raped. Madiba claimed that all but two of his victims were his girlfriends and accused the young women of cheating on him or stealing his money. He also apologised to the families of victims and stated he was sorry for taking their loved ones away.

Families of the victims said Madiba was lying about his romantic involvement with the young women. They said, instead, he lured many victims to their death with the promise of work. The state argued his murderous rampage was incorrigible.

The offence

Madiba admitted to murdering eight women and a baby. He assaulted and robbed his victims. One of the women was raped.

In the court proceedings, it was said that one of Madiba’s victims was carrying her baby girl on her when she was killed. The state said Madiba kidnapped the little girl and then strangled her too. At the time of earlier proceedings, police alleged that the victims were raped before being killed.

Investigation

Police in Limpopo believed a serial killer targeting women could be on the loose in the Groblersdal area. After the discovery of a woman's body on September 2, police said the number of bodies was four since April.

Police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the woman was found dead and burnt beyond recognition in the bushes at Groblersdal. He said her hands were tied behind her back and that two women discovered the body while collecting firewood at B50 Mkholoane Farm.

Mulaudzi said that, following a spate of murders in the Groblersdal area, suspicions of a serial killer were strengthened because the modus operandi in all the killings was the same.

Mulaudzi said initial investigations showed the women were raped before being killed.

Arrest

Petrus Madiba appeared in the Groblersdal Regional Court in connection with a murder charge. The case was postponed to October 1 to allow him time to get Legal Aid representation.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said Madiba would know in two weeks’ time whether he would be granted bail.

Trial

On September 20, 2012, Madiba appeared in the Groblersdal Regional Court on a murder charge.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said: "For now, Madiba is facing one charge of murder but more murder and robbery charges are likely to be added," and: "Indications are that more women may have been raped by the same man. That's why we will hold an identity parade."

The elder sister of Monica Mohlahlo, Christina Nkadimeng, said: "We just pray to God the arrested man is really the one responsible for the murder of my sister. We want to know why he did such a horrible thing."

On October 16, 2013, lawyers for a convicted killer wanted to investigate Madiba’s claims of mental instability. Madiba was said to be accused of killing eight women and a baby while out on bail for murder. Madiba wanted to plead guilty to the killing spree.

It was said that Madiba was convicted of strangling a woman in November last year and that he was serving a 35-year sentence for that killing.

On October 17, 2013, Madiba told the court he was sorry for the killings, but said also that his victims provoked him to rage, causing him to kill. It was also stated that he began sobbing upon hearing the sentence and that he apologised to the families of victims.

Judge Bill Prinsloo told the Middelburg Circuit Court that Madiba would remain a threat to society for as long as he lived. The judge questioned Madiba’s motive for the confession and said it was probably that Madiba pleaded guilty because the case against him was overwhelming.

Sentencing

On October 17, 2013, Madiba was sentenced to life in jail.

Judge Bill Prinsloo ordered that the life sentence ran subsequent to the 35 years Madiba was already serving.

It was stated that Madiba began sobbing upon hearing the sentence. He apologised to the families of victims, saying he was sorry he had taken their loved ones away.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Madiba was sentenced to life in prison on October 17, 2013.

Aftermath

The family members of Madiba’s alleged victims were back in the Middelburg Circuit Court on October 16, 2013, hoping to hear what happened to their loved ones.

Timeline

• September 11, 2012 — Police in Limpopo said a serial killer targeting women could be on the loose in the Groblersdal area; a woman's body was found on September 2, bringing the number of bodies to four since April.
• September 20, 2012 — Madiba appeared in the Groblersdal Regional Court on a murder charge; the case was postponed to October 1 for Legal Aid representation; police said more murder and robbery charges were likely to be added.
• October 16, 2013 — Lawyers for a convicted killer sought to investigate Madiba’s claims of mental instability; sentencing was scheduled for that day.
• October 17, 2013 — Madiba admitted to murdering eight women and a baby and was sentenced to life in prison; the life sentence was ordered to run subsequent to his 35-year sentence.
• October 18, 2013 — The sentencing outcome was described as life for serial killer Petrus Madiba.

Other details

Petrus Madiba was said to have been positively linked to the death of Monica Mohlahlo, 32, of Masakaneng village, whose body was found in May.

Dinah Morulaneng Lekola, 28, of Groblersdal, was reported missing on May 27. It was said she reportedly went off with a man who had promised to give her a job and had not been seen since.

The woman found on April 8 was described as a decomposing body of a woman in her late 30s found in the bushes at Air Stripped; she was wearing a brown T-shirt and black tights.

It was said that two women were collecting firewood at B50 Mkholoane Farm when they discovered the body.

Christina Nkadimeng said Monica Mohlahlo’s death was especially hard on Monica's daughter, aged 11, and that the girl had to rely on her grandmother's pension grant to survive.

The reported prior conviction was a conviction of strangling a woman in November last year.