A compelling piece that takes the reader into the minds of South African serial killers through narrative psychology.
On Saturday, 17 August 2024, the Wits Origin Centre hosted the launch of a book titled Killer Stories written by psychologist Brin Hodgskiss and Nicole Engelbrecht, which uses the stories of serial killers to explore their psyche.
Hodgskiss interviewed several serial killers to tell their own version of events. He then applied the principles of narrative psychology to help the reader get a glimpse of how the individuals think, using his role as a psychologist to better understand them.
In his conversations with the serial killers, Hodgskiss learnt that the environment played a huge role in the way that these individuals turned out. He also noted that many of them had a misogynist outlook that made it difficult for him to bear and listen to.
While writing, Hodgskiss realized that “the role that was played by the stories I told myself about myself was part of the problem.” He added, “I noticed amongst all the serial murderers I spoke to was the power that their story has.” These stories that serial killers told to themselves about their place in the world “influenced the crimes they committed”.
Hodgskiss was joined by the curator of the Wits Origins Centre Dr Tammy Reynards and Wits academics Beth Amato and Dr Sahba Besharati who formed a panel to discuss crime, trauma, and healing in South Africa.
Speaking to the audience, Hodgskiss explained his journey prior to writing the book, stating that it all started when he was part of a team at Rhodes University that went to Grahamstown to help the police with identifying offenders. This led him to different maximum-security prisons, where he interviewed serial killers.
Nichole Engelbrecht, the host of True Crime South Africa, a victim-focused true crime podcast, invited Hodgskiss a guest on an episode after reading his research on ‘Lessons from serial murder in South Africa’. The two managed to maintain a relationship that resulted in them agreeing to write a book together which was completed in just nine months.
The book comes at a time where South Africa is experiencing a high crime index. According to South African Police Service statistical report for 2023/2024, there were 27, 368 recorded cases of murder, meaning that an average of 75 people were murdered every day in that period. The annual crime stats are due to be released next week, and one can only hope that a less chilling picture awaits.
Nevertheless, this book helps bring to the forefront that the lived experience of serial killers and their understanding of their role in society play a huge role in their destiny.
FEATURED IMAGE: Left to right: Brin Hodgskiss, Sahba Besharati & Beth Amato. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
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Murder accused, JoziFM DJ, Donald Sebolai, will take the stand tomorrow in the Johannesburg High Court in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni where his trial will resume. Sebolai allegedly killed his girlfriend, Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala, a Wits secretary and part-time student, last June. He allegedly stabbed her to death according to a forensic report, but and pleaded not guilty, DNA samples found on items of clothing after the murder match his.
TRIAL RESUMES: The trial of murder accused Donald Sebolai will resume tomorrow at the Johannesburg High Court in Ekurhuleni. He allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, Rachel ‘Dolly’ Tshabalala, a Wits secretary and student, to death last June. Photo: Facebook.
The trial of murder accused, JoziFM DJ, Donald Sebolai, will resume tomorrow in the Johannesburg High Court in Palm Ridge, Ekurhuleni. Sebolai pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, Rachel “Dolly” Tshabalala, a Wits secretary and part-time student, last June.
Media reports said that last Thursday, 30 July, senior forensic analyst, Captain Phineas Masetla testified in the DJ’s murder trial in the Johannesburg High Court. He said that DNA samples found on items of clothing after the murder matched Sebolai and Tshabalala’s.
Nonhlanhla Mkhize, a friend of Tshabalala’s since they were five, also testified. In a previous interview with Mkhize, she told Wits Vuvuzela she received a call from Sebolai confessing to Tshabalala’s murder. Mkhize added that she does not believe Sebolai “will get the sentence he deserves” and that both she and Tshabalala’s family “saw her death coming”.
Media reports indicated that Sebolai also faces charges of theft and defeating the ends of justice after he allegedly stole Tshabalala’s car and tried to hide some of the bloodied clothes.”
The reports added that he initially planned to flee to Botswana after he confessed to Mkhize about the murder. She then reported the matter to the police.
Tshabalala worked in the Wits School of Civil Engineering, and was studying towards a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology at the Wits Plus centre for part-time students.
Professor Ian Jandrell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment referred to Tshabalala as “a revered and much-appreciated staff member.”
Sebolai hosted a weekday chat show which focused on gender equality and issues of safety for women and children.
In this episode, we explore the first principle of the Freedom Charter: “The people shall govern,” and ask what it means in modern South Africa. Through the voice of Thoriso Mogoru, a student who voted in the 2024 national elections and the insights of political analyst Prof. Daryl Glaser, we look at the gap between […]
