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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 — Money / Financial Gain
Sandy Nyathi Murdered by Wife of Sandy Nyathi, Raghanya, and others, Siyinyathi, South Africa
On December 3, in Siyinyathi, South Africa, Sandy Nyathi was killed in a staged roadside attack. His wife orchestrated the murder by hiring three teenagers to kill him for a promised sum of 15,000. The …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Siyinyathi | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Dec. 3, 2025
View DetailsDr Nondumiso Ngcobo Allegedly Murdered by Sifiso Vusumuzi Sibanyoni, Mbombela, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Dr. Nondumiso Ngcobo, a South African doctor, was allegedly murdered in a targeted hit orchestrated by her estranged husband, Sifiso Vusumuzi Sibanyoni, amid divorce proceedings and disputes over their joint estate. The couple had a …
State/Province: Mpumalanga, South Africa | City/Region: Mbombela | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Nov. 19, 2024
View DetailsJocelyn Smith Disappearance Involving Kelly Smith, Jacken Butta-Apolis, and others, Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Jocelyn Smith, a 6-year-old girl from Saldanha Bay, South Africa, disappeared on February 19, 2024. Her mother, Kelly Smith, and her mother's boyfriend, Jacken Butta-Apolis, were the last known adults responsible for her. Both were …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Saldanha Bay | Incident Type: Missing Person / Presumed Homicide | Date: Feb. 19, 2024
View DetailsJoshlyn Smith Disappearance Involving Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis, and others, Salana Bay, Western Cape, South Africa
Joshlyn Smith, a 6-year-old girl from Salana Bay near Cape Town, South Africa, disappeared under suspicious circumstances involving her mother Kelly Smith and her mother's boyfriend Jacquen Appollis. The child lived in neglectful conditions with …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Salana Bay | Incident Type: Missing Person / Presumed Homicide | Date: Feb. 19, 2024
View DetailsNadine To Blanch and Ruandre Forer Allegedly Murdered by Freddie Stapelberg and Pardon Danhier, Alberton, Gauteng, South Africa
On 2023-11-27, Nadine To Blanch, 32, and her nine-year-old son Ruandre Forer were found dead in their Alberton home. Nadine was reportedly strangled and suffered a severe sharp-force head wound, while Ruandre was reportedly suffocated …
State/Province: Gauteng, South Africa | City/Region: Alberton | Incident Type: Family Homicide | Date: Nov. 27, 2023
View DetailsSibusiso Sithebe Allegedly Murdered by L Mangu and Mangu, Sang, South Africa
Sibusiso Sithebe, a 32-year-old taxi driver and father of two, was murdered in an insurance scam involving his ex-girlfriend L Mangu and her husband Mangu. The couple lured Sithebe to their home under false pretenses, …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Sang | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Jan. 1, 2022
View DetailsLeisel de Jager Allegedly Murdered by Werner de Jager, Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
In October 2021, Leisel de Jager, a beloved local pastor in Amanzimtoti, South Africa, was found murdered at her home. Her husband, Werner de Jager, was the prime suspect from the beginning. The crime scene …
State/Province: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | City/Region: Amanzimtoti | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Oct. 13, 2021
View DetailsCharlene Yster Murdered by Ashley October and Regan, Elim, Western Cape, South Africa
Charlene, identified inconsistently in the source as Charlene Yster, Charlene Jooste, and Charlene October, was a former South African police officer and ex-wife of Ashley October. The report describes a long history of alleged controlling …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Elim | Incident Type: Murder | Date: July 12, 2021
View DetailsLeon Brits Murdered by Suretha Brits, Enrich Williams, and others, Pofadder, Northern Cape, South Africa
Leon Brits, a hotel owner in Pofadder, South Africa, was killed at his home on 7 October 2020. His wife, Suretha Brits, was later identified as the alleged mastermind after arranging payments and logistical information …
State/Province: Northern Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Pofadder | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Oct. 7, 2020
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 DetailsKgomotso Lelo Love Line Abina Kauno Allegedly Romance Scam by Husband Innocent and Syndicate, Cape Town, South Africa
Kgomotso Lelo Love Line Abina Kauno, known as Miss Leo from Real Housewives of Cape Town, and her husband Innocent, along with a pastor and church members, were involved in a romance scam syndicate. They …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Cape Town | Incident Type: Family Homicide | Date: Jan. 1, 2015
View DetailsMukozi Makabozi, Naksulo Mapande, and others Disappearance Involving Tozamil Taki, Amzinto, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
According to the source, 13 young women disappeared in 2007 after allegedly meeting Tozamil Taki, who promised them factory employment. Their bodies were later found in sugarcane and tea fields around Amzinto and Port St. …
State/Province: KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | City/Region: Amzinto | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Sept. 1, 2007
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 DetailsDilly Scholtz Disappearance Involving George Thompson, Rhondos, Western Cape, South Africa
Dilly Scholtz, a 26-year-old woman from Rhondos, Western Cape, South Africa, was murdered on July 3, 1961. She disappeared while walking 59 meters from her home to her car garage. Her body was found six …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Rhondos | Incident Type: Murder | Date: July 3, 1961
View DetailsBen Rheeder and David Rheeder Murdered by Margaret Rheeder, Algoa Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Ben Rheeder fell ill suddenly and died after a painful illness initially diagnosed as gastroenteritis. Suspicion arose around his wife Margaret Rheeder after she purchased ant poison months before his death and was found to …
State/Province: Eastern Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Algoa Park | Incident Type: Murder | Date: April 29, 1957
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