Sibusiso DUMA

Classification: Serial killer
Characteristics: Taxi driver - Kidnapping - Rape
Number of victims: 7
Date of murder: September-October 2007
Date of arrest: October 26, 2007
Date of birth: May
Victims profile: Mqeku Zondi / Patricia Kippen (39) / Elaine Anderson (59) / Hlengiwe Shangase / Masizane Mtshatsha and Thamsanqua Mbindwane / Noxolo Dlamini
Method of murder: Shooting
Location: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Status: Sentenced to two life sentences plus 35 years in prison on November 14, 2007. Sentenced to six life sentences plus 104 years on August 16, 2009

Sibusiso Duma is a South African serial killer who was twice convicted in 2007 and 2009 of 2 and 5 murders and sentenced to 8 Life Sentences in prison. He was mostly active around the town of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal.

Duma is violent psychopath who partook of theft, kidnapping, rape and murder. He worked as a taxi driver and used his vehicle both to obtain his victims as well as a weapon on occasion. Duma’s reasoning, victimology and methodology changed almost from victim to victim indicating that he was a disorganized killer.

Duma first killed on the 9th of September 2007 when he used his minibus taxi to run over and kill a Department of Education security guard; Mqeku Zondi. Duma agreed to drive Mr Zondi to his residence for an agreed fee. The conductor of Duma’s taxi Mlungisi Bhengu, testified that Zondi reneged on paying the fare for some of the journey at which point “Duma drove into the old man, ran over him with the wheels of the taxi and then reversed over his body again”. Duma then alighted from his taxi and robbed the victim of his remaining money and a 9mm Norinco pistol.

On the evening of the 14th of October 2007, Duma and his accomplice Simphiwe Khesi had been drinking at a local shebeen. Leaving a little after 19:00, the men realised that there would be no taxis available, so planned to hijack a vehicle in order to get home. Finding a suitable vehicle, Duma shot and killed the occupant, First National Bank employee Patricia Kippen (39). The shooting brought attention from nearby residents causing the duo to abandon the vehicle. They soon found another likely target, shooting dead former Witness crime journalist Elaine Anderson (59).

On the 19th of October 2007, Duma raped, shot and murdered Hlengiwe Shangase. Duma had waited near to her home before dragging her to a desolate area and raping her. He then shot her in the head at point blank range using the Norinco pistol he had stolen from Mqeku Zondi.

The following day Duma hijacked, shot and killed two men; Masizane Mtshatsha and Thamsanqua Mbindwane. An hour later, now driving in the hijacked VW Polo, Duma kidnapped three further victims; Tsepo Mhlongo, Linda Jali and a teenage girl. The two men were robbed, ordered out of the vehicle, shot and left for dead. Duma with his accomplice Simphiwe Khesi took the young girl to Azalea Cemetery where they gang raped her. Duma then drove the stolen car over the girl multiple times in order to kill her.

Finally, on the 25th of October 2007, Duma kidnapped, robbed, raped and murdered Pinetown teacher Noxolo Dlamini.

Duma was originally charged, convicted and sentenced along with Simphiwe Khesi for the murders of Kippen and Anderson on the 14th of November 2007. Judge President Vuka Tshabalala sentenced both men to 15 years for attempting to rob Anderson and sentenced Duma to 15 years for robbing Kippen and Khesi 20 years, in addition to the life sentences for murder. Both men laughed when sentenced saying, "They're dead now. What are they worrying about?"

On the 4th of August 2009, Duma was further charged in connection with his various other crimes. On the 17th of August 2009, Acting Judge Kobus Booyens, imposed a further six life sentences and prison terms totaling 104 years. He said he intends that Duma should be permanently removed from society.

Life in jail for serial killer

News24.com

August 17, 2009

Pietermaritzburg - Serial killer and rapist Sibusiso Duma, already serving two life sentences plus 35 years in jail, was on Monday sentenced to a further six life terms plus 104 years by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

Acting Judge Kobus Booyens said he hoped the correctional services department would abide by his wish that 24-year-old Duma, a father of six children, should spend the rest of his life in jail. Society needed to be protected from his sort, Booyens said.

In a October 2007 crime spree Duma drove and reversed a car over a man, killing him, before robbing him. He was sentenced to life in jail for this murder.

Duma also drove over a 17-year-old schoolgirl he had kidnapped and raped, leaving her for dead.

She spent a night lying helpless in a cemetery with broken bones until she was found at first light. She spent three weeks in intensive care and two weeks in a general ward.

Duma was given three eight-year sentences for kidnapping the girl and her two male companions who were shot and wounded, but escaped. The girl was taken to a cemetery where Duma and an accomplice raped her.

Duma was sentenced to life in jail for raping the teenager, 15 years for attempting to murder her by reversing a stolen car into her and spinning a rear wheel against her, causing her burns. He got another eight years for kidnapping and 20 years for robbing her.

Earlier that night he shot dead two men and robbed them of the car which he used to kidnap the girl and her two friends. He was given a life sentence for each of these two murders and 20 years' jail for robbing them.

In all Duma was convicted of 16 crimes committed between September 9 and October 25 2007.

Duma did not testify during his trial. Booyens refused Duma's application for leave to appeal.