Elias Xitavhudzi
Encyclopedia
Elias Xitavhudzi was a serial killer
who murdered 16 men and women in Atteridgeville
, South Africa
in the 1950s. Targeting only white males and females in a strictly-segregated
community, his killing spree caused a local sensation during the peak years of South Africa's apartheid regime.
Prior to his capture, he acquired the nickname "Pangaman" (panga being a local word for the machete
with which he mutilated his victims). Following his conviction, he was sentenced to death
and hanged
on 14 November 1960.
Xitavhudzi was the second in a series of at least a half-dozen serial killers to have plagued the township of Atteridgeville
.
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
who murdered 16 men and women in Atteridgeville
Atteridgeville
Atteridgeville, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township located on the west of Pretoria, South Africa. It is bordered to the west by Saulsville, to the east by Proclamation Hill; to the south by Laudium and to the north by Lotus Gardens.-History:Atteridgeville was...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the 1950s. Targeting only white males and females in a strictly-segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
community, his killing spree caused a local sensation during the peak years of South Africa's apartheid regime.
Prior to his capture, he acquired the nickname "Pangaman" (panga being a local word for the machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
with which he mutilated his victims). Following his conviction, he was sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
and hanged
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
on 14 November 1960.
Xitavhudzi was the second in a series of at least a half-dozen serial killers to have plagued the township of Atteridgeville
Atteridgeville
Atteridgeville, part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, is a township located on the west of Pretoria, South Africa. It is bordered to the west by Saulsville, to the east by Proclamation Hill; to the south by Laudium and to the north by Lotus Gardens.-History:Atteridgeville was...
.