While the nation marked Women’s Day with celebration, parts of Pretoria were clouded by fear. Residents are on edge, worried that a serial killer may be preying on women in their communities.
In the past three months, five women have been brutally murdered. The only suspect so far, 36-year-old Heldor Isidro, has been linked to just one of the killings. Chillingly, he was out on bail when the fifth victim, Loveness Magabe, lost her life.
Magabe vanished in July, and her worst fears came true when her body was found in a shallow grave in Isidro’s backyard. Investigators believe he may have used social media to lure his victims.
Her friend, Faith Mawelewele, still remembers the unsettling message Magabe sent her that day. Magabe confided that she felt uneasy—she had been dropped off at Isidro’s home instead of the lodge where they had agreed to meet. That was the last anyone heard from her.
For many in Pretoria, the case is more than a headline—it’s a reminder that danger can hide in plain sight.