Zola Jackson Mqomboyi

Overview

Zola Jackson Mqomboyi was sentenced to 120 years in prison by the Cape High Court.

He was convicted of five murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The court described him as a “dangerous criminal” and a “disorganised serial killer”. His victims were buried in shallow graves, and some of their hands and feet had been cut off.

Timeline

• October 27, 2003 — Zola Jackson Mqomboyi was sentenced to 120 years in prison by the Cape High Court.
• January (year not stated in source) — Western Cape police serious violent crimes unit investigators dug up five bodies.
• between September 2000 and January (year not stated in source) — All killings were committed in the Eerste River/Mfuleni area.

The offence

The court found that Mqomboyi committed all five murders using an axe in the Eerste River/Mfuleni area.

The court heard that the five murders involved two men and three women. It also found that Mqomboyi raped a teenager who was 13 years old. The teenager was raped twice and was suicidal, with flashbacks and trauma described in court.

Some of the bodies’ hands and feet had been cut off.

Investigation

Western Cape police serious violent crimes unit investigators dug up five bodies in January. The shallow graves were discovered near Rotterdam Road bordering Mfuleni and Eerste River after being pointed out by Mqomboyi.

The investigating officer, Detective Inspector Jonathan Morris, testified about the teenager and the condition described in court.

Other investigators involved in digging up the bodies were identified as Jonathan Morris, Deon de Villiers and Reynold Talmakkies.

Arrest

Mqomboyi pointed out the location of the shallow graves near Rotterdam Road bordering Mfuleni and Eerste River.

Trial

Judge Wilf Thring convicted Mqomboyi of killing two men and three women, and raping a teenager.

During sentencing, Judge Thring told Mqomboyi:

“The crimes that you committed are chilling, especially the five murders.”

Judge Thring also stated:

“The community should be protected against you. You pose a mental and physical threat to the well-being of others in the community. You did not show remorse for the deeds you've done.”

The court heard evidence from Dr Sean Kaliski, head of forensics and psychiatry at Valkenberg Hospital, who testified on Mqomboyi’s condition.

Dr Sean Kaliski told the court that Mqomboyi was a disorganised serial killer and a psychopath, and that he was a “high risk person”.

Sentencing

The sentencing court sentenced Mqomboyi to 20 years each for five murders and the rape of a 13-year-old girl, producing an effective total of 120 years.

Judge Thring declared Mqomboyi “a dangerous criminal” in terms of Section 286(A) of the Criminal Procedure Act.

Judge Thring ordered that Mqomboyi be brought before the Cape High Court again after serving an effective 20 years in jail.

Judge Thring agreed with Dr Sean Kaliski’s evidence that Mqomboyi could not be rehabilitated.

Appeals

No appeal information was included in the provided case summary.

Other details

The court heard that Mqomboyi had been sentenced previously:

• 1992 — four years’ imprisonment for robbery.
• 1993 — two years for serious assault.
• 1988 — an undisclosed jail term coupled with corporal punishment for culpable homicide.