Modimolle 'serial killer' held

2008-05-16 20:48

Pretoria - Limpopo police on Friday arrested a man suspected to be a serial killer involved in the murder of seven children and a woman, and the disappearance of three others, from Modimolle (Nylstroom).

The 45-year-man was arrested in the Lwamondo village near Vuwani in Vhembe after forensic evidence linked him to the crimes, police said in a statement.

The man was due to appear in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Seven children and a woman went missing in the area between 2004 and 2008.

They were later found murdered, some buried in shallow graves.

A further three children are still missing.

Preliminary investigations pointed to the possibility of the involvement of a serial killer.

A provincial task team was established to investigate the cases and using DNA samples identified the suspect.

"We believe we have apprehended the right person," Provincial Commissioner Calvin Sengani said.

The killer's victims include Matshidiso Greycia Makhubela, 3, who went missing in 2004 while playing next to her home and whose body was found a day later. She had been raped.

Rosina Malete, eight, and her brother Petrus Malete, 11, went missing in 2006 and their decomposed bodies were found days later.

Kedibone Princess Shiburi, nine, also went missing in 2006 and her body was found in the industrial area of Modimolle.

Eight-year old Johanna Rebeca Baloyi was raped before she was strangled after she went missing in 2007.

Refilwe Ringane, also eight, was found murdered last year.

Earlier this year five-year-old Mokgadi Maria Mafora was found murdered after she went missing and it is suspected that she was also raped.

The only adult of the group Ramaesela Salome Kwinana's, 46, naked body was found next to a railway line.

She had also been raped.

Police were still searching for Nono Johanna Lefawane, eight, Joshua Moyati Chauke, 10, both of whom went missing in 2005 and Johanna Ramokoni, four, who is missing since 2006.

- SAPA