Sex worker murder trial | IO: He tied them up, raped them before killing them

JOHANNESBURG - He tied them up and raped them repeatedly, before trying to dispose of their bodies according to the evidence of the Investigating officer in the trial of self-confessed sex-worker murderer, Sifiso Mkhwanazi.

READ: Sex Worker Murders Trial | 'Possibility that Mkhwanazi repeatedly raped his victims' - Police

He disputes the 21-year-old’s claim that the killings were not premeditated.

The state believes these were revenge killings as the deceased are sex workers from Zimbabwe. eNCA senior reporter, Aviwe Mtila, caught up with sex workers who had interactions with Mkhwanazi and brings us up to speed on the case.

SUPER@ BONGANI MBONAMBI, INVESTIGATING OFFICER“

Bongani Mbonambi, the investigating officer for the case, said, "For him to come for another body, day after day, means that thing was planned.”

It’s been a year and four months since South Africans were shocked by the discovery of six bodies, who were later identified as sex workers, killed by then 20-year-old Sifiso Mkhwanazi.

An area inside a panel beating workshop where the first decomposed body was found was described as a slaughter house.

It was there that the women had been tied up and raped repeatedly before their murder.

In court, while admitting to the murders, the now 21-year-old says he didn’t plan the murders and disputes the seven rape charges, claiming the sex was consensual.

While poking holes to his admission, the state questioned why Mkhwanazi would tie up dead bodies after strangling them to death, as he suggests.

Dragged and scattered around the workshop, a body was found inside a van, another wrapped up in a plastic bag, and others scattered around the area

Some sex workers have been attending court proceedings daily, and some are state witnesses.

Mary *not her real name* was there on 24 July, when she says Mkhwanazi picked up her friend and left with her.

She said, "The time it was after 3 [PM] when I saw Sifiso. It was my first day seeing him. We didn’t know her totally. He take my colleague he say we go to a safe place where you’re going to not pay R10, I’ll give you R50, let’s go."

"So my friend just go with her. But before my friend go with her, my friend come to me, ask for a condoms and then they go."

"Since that time until we realize 2 AM when we knock off, we see our friend didn’t come back

Three bodies from the six bodies that were discovered from the workshop, are yet to be identified

A common trait that other sex workers confirmed mere days after the gruesome discovery of the bodies, they were all from Zimbabwe.

Mary said, "He used to target especially Shonas, if you are coming he’ll ask you where you are coming from, if you say South Africa he’ll just make love with you and say go go go."

"But Zimbabweans, he’ll take Zimbabweans especially the Shona ones. So we don’t know if the guy was on a revenge mission or something.”

Tracy *not her real name* said she’s also had an encounter with the suspect

She said, "He wanted to call me and asked if I was from Lesotho or Shona, I said I’m from Lesotho, he said no I’m looking for Shonas.”

Lerato *not her real name* says she was shocked to learn that the workshop where the six bodies were discovered was also where she was once been taken.  She believes it’s the same 20-year-old

She recalled, "He asked me where I’m from and I told him I’m from Lesotho. I then asked him where he was from, I forgot where he said he was from. He also told me what his parents do, but I forgot too. He didn’t harm me, he did nothing to me. He took me back in a proper manner, I got dressed and left. He didn’t even sleep with me.”

In court his father testified that his son had confessed to him that the killings were revenge killings, targeting Zimbabwean sex workers after he had been accused of rape in 2021 by a Zimbabwean sex worker.

Judge Cassim Moosa said, "Did I understand your evidence to the extent where you had testified and said he had taken revenge on all these victims?”

Mark Khumalo said, "What he told me is that he was taking a revenge, it was  revenge. He didn’t go in detail but he said it was a revenge.”

While Mkhwanazi has confessed to the murders in court, the sex workers don’t believe he was working alone.

As Mkhwanazi’s trial draws to an end, safety for the sex workers continues to be a major issue

The 21-year-old’s trial continues on Monday with the state left with two or so witnesses before wrapping up its case.