The trial of Mandlankosi Galadla resumed in the Kempton Park Regional Court on October 22.

Galadla faces multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, rape and aggravated robbery, linked to a two-year crime spree in Kempton Park between 2020 and his arrest on October 28, 2022.

According to court records, Galadla allegedly lured women to open fields, where he murdered them and set their bodies alight. The known victims were women aged between 19 and 40.

In 2009, Galadla was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment for murder and rape, but successfully appealed the conviction, which led to his release.

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The case was postponed to October 29 for further hearing after the prosecutor handling the matter was off sick.

The previous court appearance, on September 17, had also been postponed to October 22 for continuation of the trial.

During proceedings on September 16, prosecutor Sibongile Nxumalo called Dr Mbalenhle Nkosi, a pathologist, to testify.

Nkosi told the court she had examined the body of one of the victims on September 8, 2022, after police reported that the woman had died on September 6.

She described the condition of the body, noting a scalp fracture, brain injuries, bruising around the eye and burn wounds.

“If someone has no injuries or illness, even if they fall, they would not sustain a scalp fracture,” Nkosi explained.

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Nkosi further testified that it is not always possible to determine when burn injuries occurred.

However, in this case, she concluded that the victim was burnt after death, as the fracture showed signs of bleeding, while the burn wounds did not.

The court also heard testimony from a neighbour of the deceased, identified only as Modiegi (not her real name).

She told the court that she knew Galadla, who often walked past her home carrying a laptop.

According to her, he frequently spoke about employment opportunities, having once told her that certain jobs required a R300 “training fee”, after which candidates would be hired as chefs and issued certificates.

Modiegi testified that the deceased had told her she had spoken to Galadla, who had asked her for R300 to secure employment.

On September 17, 2022, the deceased told her neighbour that Galadla had promised jobs would be available the following week.

A few days later, the deceased again told her neighbour that Galadla had visited her home, saying she would soon start a night shift job.

Before leaving to meet Galadla at the Swazi-Inn, she asked Modiegi to look after her child and handed her the house keys. She never returned.

When questioned about the deceased’s whereabouts, Galadla allegedly replied, “Why would you ask me? She’s your friend, go and check on her.”

Later, Modiegi said she received a call from an unknown woman, claiming the deceased was undergoing training and that cellphones were not allowed, but she would return at the end of the month.

Suspicious, Modiegi and others reported the matter to the police.

Galadla’s lawyer, Obed Lewete, told the court his client denied ever offering people jobs. He claimed instead that the deceased owed Galadla money for meaty bones she had taken on credit.

Lewete added that his client occasionally bought vetkoek from Modiegi and insisted he never offered her or the deceased employment.

Modiegi denied any knowledge of the alleged meaty bones business, saying this was the first time she had heard of it.