Bruma Lake John Does are two men who were found in the Bruma Lake in South Africa between April 2000 and February 2001. They are the only unidentified victims of serial killer duo Simon Majola and Themba Nkosi.
Case[]
The victims were discovered floating in the lake. Very few details of the circumstances are available, but it is known they were in an advanced state of decomposition. Law enforcement has considered the possibility that the victims were foreigners.
Between April 2000 and February 2001, Simon Majola and Themba Nkosi ambushed and killed eight men. As the victims were in their cars at party or picnic spots, the two men ambushed them with guns and/or knives and robbed them of their cash, jewelry, clothing, and cellphones. They would then tie their victims' feet to bricks or stones and drown them in the lake. Majola and Nkosi would subsequently spend the money on drugs. It is believed that they robbed and/or killed more victims, but most of these incidents were not reported as the couples were too reluctant to come forward or were part of the gay community.
Majola and Nkosi were arrested in February 2001; Majola was convicted of eight counts of murder, 19 counts of armed robbery, and five counts of attempted murder, and Nkosi was convicted of four counts of murder, 14 counts of armed robbery, five counts of attempted murder, and one count of assault against his then-girlfriend, Jabulile Lushaba, whom he had bragged to be responsible for the Lake Burma murders.
Sources[]
- IOL:
- News24:
- Simon Majola and Themba Nkosi on Wikipedia