Woman handed three life terms for killing lovers, son

PRETORIA – The High Court in Pretoria has sentenced Pamela Selani from Olievenhoutbosch to three life terms for killing her two lovers and her son. Selani reportedly initially enlisted the help of her second lover, only known as Gift, to kill her first victim, Micheal Changisa, after she accused him of infecting her with a chronic disease.

“One night, Gift went to the house Selani shared with Changisa and hid in the bathroom. After Changisa, fell asleep, Gift snuck out of the bathroom and repeatedly hit Changisa, with a hammer on his head in the presence of Selanis two minor children,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana. A year later she conspired with her then-17-year-old son Avela Jojwana to kill Gift, whom she accused of abusing her after they started living together.

“The two then poisoned Gift and drowned his head in water until he died. Afterwards, they buried his body in a shallow grave on top of the first deceased in her yard,” added Mahanjana.

“When Selani’s son, who had been demanding money from her to feed his drug habit, threatened to come clean about the murders she killed him too.Selani grabbed a hammer and repeatedly hit Avile on the head until he died, and she buried him on top of two deceased persons in her yard.”

Authorities were alerted to the murders in 2020 when Selani took her youngest child to a traditional healer and the teenager revealed the gruesome events. According to the statement from the NPA, the healer called a community leader, to whom the teenager repeated the story, and a decision was made to call the police.

The mother and son were arrested, however, charges against the son were later dropped when he turned state witness. Meanwhile, in court, Selani pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the state was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She was given an additional five-year imprisonment for defeating the administration of justice.