WATCH: Sex workers 'killer' out for revenge - cop

SIFISO Mkhwanazi used to lure sex workers to his father’s workshop.

The Joburg High Court sitting in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni, heard that besides the sex workers he allegedly killed, there was one sex worker he never killed or robbed.

The South African sex worker was once picked up by Mkhwanazi from the streets of Jozi, and they went to the workshop.

However, the other sex workers he allegedly killed were from Zimbabwe. They were allegedly taken by Mkhwanazi, but they never came back as they were robbed and killed.

According to Detective Sergeant Bongani Mbonambi, the sex workers' alleged killer pretended to be an innocent client when he was with his victim.

Mbonambi argued during his testimony on Monday, 19 February, that Mkhwanazi knew what he was doing.

He said what Mkhwanazi said in his statement and what cops discovered at the crime scene didn't correspond.

He said after initially being arrested and released for the first rape case which was opened against him in 2021, he made a statement in which he said he was furious after being falsely accused. 

“In terms of details as to exactly what happened and how it happened, this then leaves us with a problem where we come to a different conclusion.

“That shows the accused had planned to kill the victims. Whether he picked them up on the streets and drove to the factory or it was agreed upon up to the point where there was consensual sex, the fact is that the accused knew he had to pay revenge,” said Mbonambi.

“You take this information and go back to what he told his father that he vowed for revenge. The father, Mark Khumalo, was hoping to get the truth that he didn’t do it, but Sifiso confirmed that he did kill the six sex workers,” said Mbonambi.

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He said to get his victims to the place where he wanted them to be, he had to pretend to be an innocent client.

“When the sex workers agreed to his request, they didn't know about his ulterior motives,” said Mbonambi.

Mkhwanazi’s lawyer Vuyo Maqetuka said the body of Joyce Moyo, the first woman whose body was found on 9 October, was left in that room to be discovered.

“The accused had numerous opportunities to dispose of the body, but he couldn’t do it.

“The body was discovered in a commonplace, which is closer to the change room,” he said.  

Mbonambi said he disagreed with the accused's lawyer.

“The best he could have done was to leave the body outside the room on the floor so that any person who walked first could have found the body,” said Mbonambi.

The 21-year-old is facing six counts of murder, seven counts of rape, six counts of obstructing the administration of justice, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and unauthorszed possession of firearms and ammunition.

The charges stem from the discovery of six female bodies at the site of a panel beating workshop in October 2022. Mkhwanazi allegedly confessed to the murders during a conversation with his father, who is the second key witness.

Advocate  Maqetuka is expected to file 174 applications to discharge cases for his client, Sifiso. The trial was postponed to 21 February.