Victims of the Gautung Serial Killer
on March 6, 2012 in Unsubs, Victimology by Brian CombsThe Gautung Serial Killer is believed to have killed at least eight gay men between 2010 and 2012. We have information on the eight known victims and one possible victim.
Jim Cathels
Jim was found bound and strangled in his home in December 2010.
Manolis Veloudos
Manolis was murdered in April 2010. He was bludgeoned with a laptop, then bound and strangled in his home.
Oscar O’Hara
Oscar was killed in May 2011 while house sitting for author Ivan Vladislavic. He had been bound and strangled.
Unnamed Victim #1
An victim from August 2011 remains unnamed. He was found bound and strangled in his home, but investigators believe he tried to fight off his attacker, but was bludgeoned with a heavy object.
Siphiwe Selby Nhlapo
Siphiwe was found bound and strangled in his home on September 11, 2011. It appears acid was poured on his face post mortem. Some clothes and a television were taken.
Barney van Heerden
Barney was found bound and strangled in his home on September 19, 2011. His laptop and cellphone were taken.
Jason Wessenaar
Jason, an HIV activist, was stabbed to death on December 18, 2011. Police report signs of a struggle, and believe he may have met his killer online.
Theve Mogamisi
Theve arrived in Joburg in late December 2011 to pursue a relationship with someone he had met online. He disappeared on December 31, 2011.
Rulov Senekal
Theater manager Rulov was found bound and strangled in his home on February 26, 2012. Two men who had met with him the night before were recorded on CCTV as they left his home. They were carrying a laptop and a plastic bag. Computer forensics indicates he had logged into his online dating profile the evening the two men visited.
The victims all met the serial killer online. Is there a task force assigned yet, or is South Africa still ignoring this, because the victims are gay? I’m thinking about moving there and finding this jhjgjhhhgvhgvgh myself.
I haven’t seen that an official task force has been assigned, but I wouldn’t necessarily know, as most of the news out of South Africa is not in English. It does appear that it is at least on the radar of law enforcement, however.
Claudia – as a South African myself, I can guarantee you that the lack of progress has less to do with the victims being gay – than ongoing ineptitude, corruption, limited resources etc.
There is a good reason for the lack of ‘cop’ reality shows in SA – we have nothing noteworthy to share! In years gone by, our police force was one to be reckoned with – but currently, I would generously estimate that around 30% of our police crew are themselves interested,honest, capable and guiltless. It’s quite standard to hear of policemen/women being arrested for crimes ranging from fraud to murder… even our national chiefs are not without a history of dirty handed practises!
It’s a circus here. There are however, some noteworthy efforts to track down serial killers in SA… just not very many. As for moving here… not unless you enjoy living behind razor wire, in fear. I love my country – but it is fast becoming a lawless jungle. Since the national
abolition of the death penalty / scores of violent offenders granted early release by the president to free up jail space etc…. there is no real deterrant. Add to that the fact that time spent in prison with a daily guarantee of a warm meal – in a country of grindingly poor people, is really not such a terrible prospect.
Hi Brian
It’s GautEng đŸ˜‰ – meaning City of Gold (Oh! the irony!). Many SA articles will be written in Afrikaans – a local language which was made up of many different tongues, including Dutch/French/Khoi San. Should you have a genuine interest in any articles in the future, you are welcome to pop me a mail, and I will be happy to translate it into English for you (no charge) when I have a chance, since I am fully bilingual and I am a lazy but competent writer!