Elifasi Msomi

Case record: Elifasi Msomi

Background

Elifasi Msomi was a Zulu man known as South Africa's “Axe Killer”. He was hanged in Pretoria.

A “tokoloshe,” an elf-like demon, sat on the shoulder of Elifasi Msomi and ordered him to kill.

The offence

Elifasi Msomi hacked victims to death. He killed people in the Unkomaas and Umzimkuku valleys in Natal.

Elifasi Msomi also initially raped and murdered a young woman. He later accounted for the lives of 5 children before being re-arrested. He was later arrested for petty theft and was spotted as the man wanted for 15 murders.

He posed as a doctor and charmed his victims into willingly going off with him to some remote place before he killed them.

Elifasi Msomi claimed that the “tokoloshe” would appear on his shoulder and order him to kill.

During the killing period described, he killed a girl in Zibeville Kraal, put some of her blood in a bottle, and later killed 14 more people with knives, clubs and axes.

Investigation

Elifasi Msomi assisted the police in finding some of his victims remains, including a missing skull.

Arrest and escape

Elifasi Msomi was arrested after his mistress alerted the police. He escaped shortly afterwards, giving credit for his escape to the “tokoloshe”.

After being arrested again and released into custody, Elifasi Msomi was later arrested for petty theft. The stolen items turned out to belong to his victims. He was soon fingered as the murderous culprit.

Trial

Elifasi Msomi was tried after being arrested for petty theft and being identified as the person wanted for 15 murders.

At the trial, two leading psychologists told the court that Elifasi Msomi was of way above average intelligence and derived sexual pleasure from inflicting pain on others.

Elifasi Msomi blamed the murders on the “tokoloshe” which he said possessed him.

Sentencing

Elifasi Msomi was sentenced to death by hanging at Pretoria Central Prison.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Outcome

Elifasi Msomi was executed by hanging in Pretoria Central Prison on Friday, February 10th, 1956.

A deputation of nine Zulu chiefs and elders attended the hanging to confirm that the “tokoloshe” did not save him from death. One chief feared that Msomi might himself turn into a “tokoloshe” and return to Natal.

Chief Manzo Iwandla, one of nine Zulus watching, said:

“I am satisfied,” nodded Chief Manzo Iwandla, one of nine Zulus watching. “Tikoloshe did not save him.”

Aftermath

Local Zulu chiefs were anxious to inform their superstitious people that the “tokoloshe” hadn’t saved the prisoner from a just death. One chief nonetheless feared that many Zulus would think that Msomi might himself turn into a “tokoloshe” and return to Natal.

Other details

Elifasi Msomi consulted with another sangoma. He claimed that in that exchange he was co-opted by an evil sprite, the Tokoloshe.

Elifasi Msomi began an 18 month killing crusade under instruction of the “tokoloshe”.

The killings were carried out in the southern KwaZulu-Natal valleys of South Africa.