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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: Outcome — Deadbody recovery
Rethabile Harriet Mosime Allegedly Murdered by Martin Modikoe, Rustenburg, North West, South Africa
Rethabile Harriet Mosime, a 23-year-old mother of two from North West Province, South Africa, was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend Martin Modikoe after she ended their relationship on June 18, 2026. The fatal …
State/Province: North West, South Africa | City/Region: Rustenburg | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: June 18, 2026
View DetailsMinenhle 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 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 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 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 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 DetailsAnnie Dewani, Vinot Deutscher, and others Kidnapped by Praka Stewani, Simado Quabe, and others, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Annie Dewani, a 28-year-old newlywed, was murdered during her honeymoon in South Africa. She and her husband Shen Divan had a lavish wedding in Mumbai but were reportedly unhappy in their marriage. During their honeymoon …
State/Province: Western Cape, South Africa | City/Region: Cape Town | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Nov. 13, 2010
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 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 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 DetailsRhodes Cecil Cowlele Murdered by Daisy de Melker, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
On March 5, 1932, Rhodes Cecil Cowlele died from arsenic poisoning in Johannesburg. His mother, Daisy Louisa de Melker, was charged with murdering Rhodes and her former husbands William Alfred Cowlele and Robert Sproat. She …
State/Province: Gauteng, South Africa | City/Region: Johannesburg | Incident Type: Murder | Date: March 5, 1932
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