Neighbours shocked by Mogale conviction

IN the eyes of the world he is a monster - but to his family and neighbours serial murderer and rapist Jack Mogale is a "humble man of God"

The community of the Waterworks informal settlement in Zuurbekom on the West Rand even shared a cup of the Zion Christian Church holy tea with Mogale.

Mogale, 44, was arrested on March 27 2009 after Mary Sepeng, who later turned state witness, reported one of the victims missing when she failed to arrive home on March 13.

Last week he was found guilty of 52 charges - 19 of rape, 16 of murder, nine of kidnapping and attempted murder, among them.

On Friday Mogale was sentenced in the Johannesburg high court to 16 life terms that are to run concurrently. He will serve another 23 years thereafter, without the possibility of parole.

Family and neighbours said they were shocked when Mogale was arrested. They are even more appalled by the fact hat he has been found guilty of murder and rape.

His sister, who asked not to be named, said they would appeal the conviction and sentence.

"The entire family feels really bad," she said. "My brother was a good man and he couldn't have kidnapped or killed anyone.

"He is paying for someone else's crimes. The other day he told me that Frans Aphane killed these people and had threatened to kill him if he said anything."

Mogale, who left school in Grade 10, has two daughters - aged 11 and 8.

They live with his sister in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg. His wife died in 2006, the same year he was arrested for selling stands in Waterworks. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

"His children have not seen him since December 2008. They always ask after him. Its not easy for a child to grow up without of his, Promise Ngwenya, 31, said: "We were woken up by a noise outside our homes. I was shocked when Jack was arrested. Even today when I see the front page of the Sowetan (Thursday's edition) I cannot believe that he has been found guilty of these crimes. He is such a humble man."

Mogale started living in the area in 2005. He did not have a steady girlfriend and used to bring various women to his shack.

"He never seemed like a murderer or a rapist," Ngwenya said. "Jack bought bread for my children when there was no food in the house.

"He has never hurt anyone from this area."

Another neighbour, Andiswa Mbikwane, 26, said she used to go to Mogale's house and he would give her and her friend Patricia Gunqisa, 22, the holy tea to drink.

"He always told me and my friend that the holy tea would cleanse us and we would get boyfriends. He was good to us and I don't believe he committed those crimes," Mbikwane said.

Bongani Nkosi, who claimed that Mogale healed his aching foot, said: "He prayed for me and gave me tea to drink and I was healed.

"I even found a girlfriend but she dumped me the moments Jack was arrested."

Nkosi's former lover confirmed that the two had separated, but said she did not know that Nkosi was drinking the tea and whether or not it had got them together.