The man who admitted to killing six sex workers, Sifiso Mkhwanazi, told the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge that the police used his father to get a confession out of him. Mkhwanazi took to the stand testifying in a trial-within-a-trial to determine the admissibility of the confession he allegedly made to his father, days after his arrest.

Mkhwanazi told the court that he had been brought to the Johannesburg Central Police Station for the purpose of an identity parade. He said it had been days since his arrest when he was fetched from his holding cell at the police station by the investigating officer and other SAPS members unknowingly to meet with his father, Mark Khumalo. "When I was on my way to meet my father, Sergeant Bongani Mbonambi told me to confess. He said I should make a confession, but I can't remember what I said. I did not confess, Mbonambi said to my father, here is your child, he will talk to you, I will give you space and then he went out. I remained there with my father." Mbonambi is the lead investigator in the case.

Mkhwanazi said when he walked into the room and realising that his father was there, he got shocked because he hadn't seen him since his arrest. "I realised that my father had a recording device and a cellphone with him. He looked angry but we greeted each other, and he asked me how I was and asked me to tell the truth about why I was arrested. He begged me to tell the truth," Mkhwanazi told the court. He said at that point, he felt forced to confess because his father threatened to stop supporting him financially if he didn't do as he was told. Mkhwanazi admitted to killing all six sex workers but has pleaded not guilty to charges tabled against him. He is facing six counts of murder, seven counts of rape, six counts of defeating or obstructing the administration of justice, robbery with aggravating circumstances and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.