Christopher Mhlengwa Zikode was born in 1975 in Donnybrook, a small rural town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Between 1994 and 1995, Christopher Mhlengwa Zikode terrorized the community of Donnybrook. His typical method involved forcibly entering homes, where he would shoot any male occupants. He then abducted the women, taking them to nearby fields or plantations, where he raped them repeatedly, sometimes for more than five hours. If victims resisted, he would kill them and, in some instances, engage in necrophilic acts. ​

Zikode's reign of terror led to his arrest on September 29, 1995. He was initially apprehended in July 1995 for the attempted murder of Beauty Zulu but was released on bail. While out on bail, he committed additional crimes, including one murder and two attempted murders. ​

In 1995, Zikode was convicted on multiple charges: eight counts of murder, five counts of rape, five counts of attempted murder, and two counts of indecent assault. On January 7, 1997, he was sentenced to 140 years in prison, which included five life sentences. The presiding judge highlighted Zikode's complete disregard for human life and his contemptuous attitude toward women.