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South Africa
Country Intelligence Summary
38
June 18, 2026
Top Motives and Outcomes in South Africa
Top Motives
- Jealousy — 22 case(s)
- Control/domination — 18 case(s)
- Money / Financial Gain — 17 case(s)
- Revenge — 11 case(s)
- Eliminate romantic partner — 9 case(s)
Top Outcomes
- Arrest made — 36 case(s)
- Legal case ongoing — 30 case(s)
- Homicide during marriage — 26 case(s)
- Deadbody recovery — 15 case(s)
- Investigation still ongoing — 14 case(s)
State / Province Case Counts in South Africa
11 case(s)
6 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
1 case(s)
Cases in South Africa: Motive — Control/domination
Minenhle Lilitha Mjali Allegedly Murdered by James, Midrand, South Africa
Minenhle Lilitha Mjali, a 22-year-old woman from Midrand, South Africa, was allegedly assaulted and murdered by her boyfriend James and three of his friends. She was strangled, wrapped in plastic, and hidden under a bed …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Midrand | Incident Type: Murder | Date: April 18, 2026
View DetailsBusisiwe Ngubo Allegedly Murdered by Mbuyiseni Gema, Midlands, South Africa
Busisiwe Ngubo, a 36-year-old pregnant mother of triplets, was found strangled to death on the roadside near her home in Midlands, South Africa, on August 14, 2023. Her boyfriend, Mbuyiseni Gema, a 46-year-old police sergeant, …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Midlands | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Aug. 14, 2023
View DetailsTshepang Pitse Murdered by Flavio Cabangan, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Medical student Tshepang Pitse was in a secret romantic relationship with her cousin, Flavio Cabangan. The source describes a prolonged pattern of alleged isolation, financial control, threats, emotional abuse, and physical violence. After Tshepang left …
State/Province: Gauteng, South Africa | City/Region: Johannesburg | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Oct. 6, 2021
View DetailsCharl Hock and Marna Engelbrecht Allegedly Murdered by Xander, Koster, Northeastern, South Africa
On May 26, 2018, Charl Hock and her best friend Marna Engelbrecht, both 17-year-old students at a South African boarding school, were found dead in what initially appeared to be a double suicide but was …
State/Province: North West, South Africa | City/Region: Koster | Incident Type: Murder | Date: May 26, 2018
View DetailsCharl Hock and Marna Engelbrecht Allegedly Murdered by Xander, Dalareville, North Province, South Africa
On May 26, 2018, Charl Hock, 17, and her best friend Marna Engelbrecht were found dead in a boarding school dormitory in North Province, South Africa. Initially thought to be a double suicide, evidence and …
State/Province: North West, South Africa | City/Region: Dalareville | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: May 26, 2018
View DetailsJacques du Plessis Allegedly Murdered by Mariska du Plessis, Henley on Klip, South Africa
On the night of June 23, 2017, Mariska du Plessis called police twice, first alleging her husband Jacques was attacking her and their son, then reporting he had been shot by intruders. Investigations revealed a …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Henley on Klip | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: June 23, 2017
View DetailsOctavia Engelhorn, Maximo Engelhorn, and others Allegedly Murdered by Mario Di Yella, Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
According to the source, divorced father Mario Di Yella allegedly killed his three-year-old twins, Octavia and Maximo Engelhorn, during a planned visitation in Hout Bay on 2017-04-06. The account describes a prolonged divorce and custody …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Hout Bay | Incident Type: Family Homicide | Date: April 6, 2017
View DetailsThe murde of Brian Mudyiwayana by one man across the Western Cape in South Africa
Brian Mudyiwayana was convicted of murdering five women and one man across the Western Cape between 2016 and 2017. He used false promises of employment and relationships to gain trust, then controlled the narrative after …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Swellendam | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Jan. 1, 2016
View DetailsReeva Steenkamp, Jane Steenkamp, and others Allegedly Murdered by Oscar Pistorius, Pretoria, South Africa
On Valentine's Day 2013, Reeva Steenkamp was fatally shot by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius in his home in Pretoria, South Africa. Pistorius claimed he mistook her for an intruder and fired four shots through a …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Pretoria | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Feb. 14, 2013
View DetailsReeva Steenkamp Allegedly Murdered by Oscar Pistorius, Pretoria, South Africa
Oscar Pistorius, a South African Paralympic athlete, was charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. The incident occurred at Pistorius's home in Pretoria. Pistorius claimed he mistook Steenkamp for …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Pretoria | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Feb. 14, 2013
View DetailsAndrea Venter Disappearance Involving Kot Jansen Fanfin, South Africa
According to the source, Andrea Venter dated Kot Jansen Fanfin before ending the relationship because of alleged physical and emotional abuse. She feared for her life, moved to a new apartment complex, began a new …
State/Province: None | City/Region: | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: May 2, 2011
View DetailsElizabeth Martins Disappearance Involving Pit Buhertus and Senette Buhertus, Liu Kama, Western Cape, South Africa
Elizabeth Martins, an 11-year-old girl described as shy and close to her mother, disappeared after being last seen with Pit Buhertus, her father's employer and a local farmer in Liu Kama, Western Cape. Pit Buhertus …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Liu Kama | Incident Type: Murder | Date: April 13, 2007
View DetailsJaco Engelbrecht Allegedly Murdered by Anna Marie Engelbrecht, Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
Jaco Engelbrecht was found dead at his home, with his wife Anna Marie Engelbrecht as the primary suspect. The case involved prolonged domestic abuse, coercive control, and emotional and physical violence by Jaco towards Anna …
State/Province: Gauteng, South Africa | City/Region: Krugersdorp | Incident Type: Murder | Date: June 29, 2002
View DetailsBeverly Francois Murdered by Sabrina Francois, Feza, and others, Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Beverly Francois, a 49-year-old Queenstown businesswoman, was found stabbed to death in her home. Initial reports described a possible burglary, but police later arrested her daughter Sabrina Francois. Court reporting stated that Sabrina arranged a …
State/Province: Eastern Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Queenstown | Incident Type: Family Homicide | Date: March 22, 2002
View DetailsRia Boer and Annette Bo Murdered by Colin Boer Junior and Mariette, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
In May 1999, Ria Boer was found strangled in her home in Johannesburg, South Africa. The incident was initially treated as a home invasion involving rape and torture, but the source reports that an investigation …
State/Province: Gauteng, South Africa | City/Region: Johannesburg | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Jan. 5, 2000
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