Thozamile Taki, born in 1971 in Majola, near Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa, was the eldest of four children. After his father abandoned the family when Taki was 19, his mother, who was in poor health, passed away, leaving Taki to fend for his siblings. He worked various jobs, including in agriculture, to support his family. Prior to his killing spree, Taki had previous convictions for housebreaking in 1997 and robbery in 1999, for which he served prison sentences. ​

In 2007, Taki embarked on a series of murders targeting young women aged between 18 and 25. Posing as a job recruiter, he lured his victims with promises of employment opportunities at reputable companies. Once he gained their trust, Taki would take them to secluded areas in sugarcane plantations near Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal, and tea plantations near Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape. There, he robbed them of their belongings and strangled them, leaving their bodies concealed among the crops. Some reports suggest that body parts of certain victims were provided to a local traditional healer, although this was not conclusively proven.

The discovery of decomposed bodies in these plantations led to widespread fear and a rigorous investigation by law enforcement. Taki was arrested on September 24, 2007, in Welbedacht, near Durban, after police traced him through the belongings of the victims found in his possession. During his trial, Taki displayed a lack of remorse, often smiling as witnesses testified. He attempted to escape from Westville Prison in February 2010 but was seriously injured in the process, leading to a postponement of his trial.

On December 23, 2010, Taki was convicted on all charges, including 13 counts of murder and 13 counts of armed robbery. He was subsequently sentenced on January 19, 2011, to 13 life sentences for the murders and an additional 208 years for the armed robberies, with each robbery count carrying a 16-year sentence. The judge described Taki as a "jackal in a sheepskin," highlighting his deceitful methods and lack of empathy.