RELATIVES of the sex workers who were killed by Sifiso Mkhwanazi breathed a sigh of relief as Judge Cassim Moosa found him guilty of raping and killing their loved ones.
Judge Moosa delivered his verdict in the Joburg High Court, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Wednesday, 13 March.
Relatives of the sex workers were among the people who packed the courtroom.
Joyce Moyo's sister, Grace Moyo, said she's glad Mkhwanazi was found guilty.
"The death of our sister has brought pain and suffering to the family. My sister left three children behind, and they always ask what happened to their mum," Grace said.
The family had to hide some information about the type of work she was doing from her children, she said.
"We told them she was selling herbal products. We didn't know she was a sex worker. We only heard that when we went to search for her after she left home on 1 October," she said.
Grace said she hoped Mkhwanazi was heavily sentenced.
"My sister left three children aged seven, 14 and 17. They're suffering back home in Zimbabwe and we're struggling to support them," said Grace.
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The sex worker dubbed Miss A testified on Monday, 12 February, that Mkhwanazi took Joyce, one of the six workers who were found dead on 9 October.
Joyce and five other sex workers were killed between April and October 2022.
The charges follow the discovery of the 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 dad, who was the second key witness.
The daughter of Chihota Nyarai, who was also killed by Mkhwanazi, said she missed her mum.
Chihota's daughter said they didn't know that her mother was a sex worker.
The 16-year-old teenager, who asked not to be named, was in tears as she spoke to the media in the presence of her guardian.
Her mum was shot and killed by Mkhwanazi.
"My mum claimed she was working in Joburg and after she didn't come back home for days we decided to go and look for her.
"We couldn't find her, but while we were there, we heard that the bodies of six women were found at the workshop and we had to come and check," she said.
The girl said DNA tests were done and they confirmed it was her mother.
"The accused has robbed us of our mum. Even if he gets a life sentence, it won't bring my mum back," she said.
Forensic psychologist Dr Gerhard Labuschagne was called as an advisor by Legal Aid and represented Mkhwanazi.
"The impact is that Mkhwanazi could face a life sentence for each of the murders," Labuschagne said.
Judge Moosa has ordered Mkhwanazi to be taken to the Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital for observation before delivering the appropriate sentence.
The case was postponed to Wednesday, 8 May, for an assessment report from the hospital.
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