Sifiso Mkhwanazi, who was convicted of over 20 counts for the murder and rape of sex workers in October 2022, appeared briefly before the Johannesburg High Court sitting at Palm Ridge Magistrate Court today for pre-sentencing proceedings, which include arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence. The matter could not proceed as his defence attorney, Vuyo Maqetuka, reported ill.

PRE-SENTENCING

Judge Caseem Moosa postponed the matter for pre-sentencing to the 28 August 2024. "You are in custody, and you shall remain in custody." The 21-year-old was found guilty of the murder and rape of six sex workers at his father's makeshift workshop near Faraday taxi rank in Johannesburg between April and October of 2022.

PSYCHIATRIC REPORT

The court had ordered Mkhwanazi to undergo psychiatric evaluation at the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital. Previously described as a shy gent who became addicted to sex at only 15 years of age, Mkhwanazi was found to be not remorseful for his actions by doctors. Mkhwanazi, who admitted that his first sexual encounter was with a sex worker, said he was only 15 years old when he developed an interest in sex workers. He said he spotted them outside his father's makeshift workshop, where they would roam every day, and one day he used his pocket money to pay for their services. He said he never had a girlfriend and was shy to speak to anyone in person. However, he tried to do it over the phone, but that didn't work out. Mkhwanazi told probation officer and social worker Xoliswa Budaza, who prepared the sentencing report, that he never attempted to have a girlfriend and believed that his actions were exacerbated by his character.