Moses Sithole, infamously known as “The ABC Killer,” was a South African serial killer who murdered 38 people during the 1990s, earning a cumulative sentence of 2,410 years in prison.
Early Days
Sithole grew up in an orphanage after his father died and his mother abandoned him. He spent seven years incarcerated for rape as a teenager before escalating to a series of murders across three towns.
Fun Facts
The nickname “ABC Killer” derives from the initials of Atteridgeville, Boksburg, and Cleveland— the cities where he committed his crimes. In 1997, President Nelson Mandela personally visited Boksburg to rally public assistance in locating Sithole.
Family Life
Little is documented about Sithole’s personal relationships; it is inferred that he had no surviving family ties after being raised in an orphanage and later living a solitary life behind bars.
Collaborations With
Sithole’s crimes prompted collaboration between local police forces, community volunteers, and national authorities, culminating in the high-profile investigation led by the South African Police Service with support from President Mandela’s outreach efforts.