{
  "id": 7995719,
  "title": "From ABC killer to Phoenix Strangler: Serial killers who terrorised SA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/from-abc-killer-to-phoenix-strangler-serial-killers-who-terrorised-sa",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T09:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/the-star/2026-09-17-from-abc-killer-to-phoenix-strangler-serial-killers-who-terrorised-sa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In September 2007, a woman's head was discovered in a dog in Shayamoya township, Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal, marking the start of 13 murders by Thozamile Taki. Taki had promised women jobs before killing and stranding them, burying the bodies in sugar cane fields and tea plantations. Nearly two decades later, another wave of women's bodies surfaced in Ekurhuleni, reigniting memories of Taki's reign of terror. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia stated that the gruesome killings were unacceptable, and a high-level team was formed to investigate the cases. Police have not yet determined if all the recent deaths were committed by a single killer.",
  "summary": "The bodies of eight women have been found in Ekurhuleni since July, several of them naked or partially clothed.",
  "key_points": [
    "Thozamile Taki killed 13 women in 2007, burying bodies in sugar cane fields and tea plantations.",
    "Serial killer resurfaced in Ekurhuleni after 18 years, reigniting terror memories.",
    "Police formed high-level team to investigate recent deaths, uncertainty over single killer."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}