A stray dog wandering into a small South African village with a woman's decomposing head in its jaws led to the discovery of a serial killer who preyed on young women, luring them with false job promises.
The Grisly Discovery
Residents of Shayamoya Township, about 25 miles southwest of Durban, followed the dog's trail to nearby sugarcane fields, where they found the rest of the woman's body. Over the next three days, more bodies were discovered as workers harvested sugarcane.
True-crime podcaster Kristina Collins, on her KallMeKris podcast, described the horror: "It wasn't the dog that was odd. That was pretty normal. But it was what was in his mouth. The dog had a woman's decomposing head in its jaws."
The bodies were in advanced decomposition, with some showing signs of burning. Initially, only one victim was identified: Nombali Ngcobo of Inanda. Police suspected strangulation and a single perpetrator due to the similar modus operandi.
The Killer's Method
Thozamile Taki, known as the "Sugarcane" serial killer, promised young women jobs in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Many victims brought CVs and ID books, which later helped investigators contact families who had filed missing person reports.
Collins explained: "He promised them work, good jobs, steady pay, and a future. For young women with nothing but a handwritten resume and borrowed bus fare, he must have sounded like an answer to a prayer."
Taki was reportedly harvesting body parts for muti rituals, a practice involving human sacrifice to create magical charms believed to bring power or wealth.
The Investigation
The breakthrough came when a woman who narrowly escaped Taki gave a police sketch artist a description. A mobile phone belonging to a victim was traced to a woman who said her brother-in-law had given it to her. The brother-in-law, Thozamile Taki, matched the sketch.
Police raided Taki's address, arresting him and his girlfriend, Hlengiwe Nene. They found a catalogue of items belonging to the missing women, including cell phones, clothing, and bank cards.
Trial and Sentencing
Before trial, Taki attempted a jailbreak from Westville Prison but failed, falling from a roof and suffering injuries. In March 2010, he was found guilty on all 26 charges. On 19 January 2011, he received 13 life sentences for murder and an additional 208 years for robbery.
