A discussion of South African societal problems concerning spiritual ailments led to the conclusion that 'spiritual engineering' is necessary to heal a fractured society. The mentor and sage of the speaker identified five dangerous factors to avoid: greed, anger, lust, ego, and attachment.
It was noted that rape and murder of women in the country are the result of a combination of lust, greed, and anger, and the responsibility for eradicating this 'unholy union' lies with everyone.
In a society prone to violence against women and children, it is appropriate to recall the words of Nguyen Du (1765–1820): 'Man observes things that cause him painful feelings. This is the law: there is no profit without loss, and heaven punishes pure women out of pure malice.'
It was examined that investigating serial killer cases is a complex process requiring significant time to catch the perpetrator. The example of Peter Sutcliffe, a truck driver from Bradford, who killed 13 women between 1975 and 1980, is given. Initially, he attacked prostitutes in Leeds and Bradford, but then began attacking other women.
Characteristic signs of his crimes included multiple skull fractures, displaced clothing, and mutilations to the lower abdomen and chest using a knife or screwdriver. Despite assigning a team of 120 detectives, the investigation proved unsatisfactory. Sutcliffe, who was bullied at school, dropped out at age 15, became a gravedigger, and married. Later, he claimed to hear the voice of God commanding him to kill prostitutes. Eventually, law enforcement arrested him. In court, Sutcliffe did not admit guilt for the murders due to diminished responsibility, but the jury found him guilty on 13 counts of murder, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Another example is 'Son of Sam' from New York, who terrorized young couples in stationary cars between 1976 and 1977, killing six and injuring seven. He was caught after receiving a parking ticket near a fire hydrant. This ticket led to the identification of 24-year-old postal worker David Berkowitz, who turned out to be 'Son of Sam,' and he was sentenced to 365 years in prison.
Alice Sebold's novel 'Beautiful Bones' tells the story of Mr. Harvey, who raped a 14-year-old girl and hid her body. He attended her memorial service and maintained an appearance of innocence throughout the investigation, which took detectives over eight years.
The murders of women in eKurhuleni in the East Rand prompted rural women to form walking clubs. In remote rural areas where walking is a means of transport, women formed such clubs to protect vulnerable women from serial killers and perverts. These clubs are seen as a step in the right direction, demonstrating the power of joint governance between the state and citizens.
The era when the state adhered to the 'Atlas Syndrome' approach, believing it should solve all problems itself, is over. A new era is beginning where joint governance is paramount. The mentor and sage emphasized that serial killings are a combination of lust, anger, and greed, and that serial killers reflect the type of society we live in. Most people are selfish and arrogant; they deceive and rob their neighbors for personal gain, forgetting that they are only part of the chain of life.
It is also noted that society is aggressive, which indicates the erosion of the values of reason and rationality. Serial killers are created by our society, and 'spiritual engineering' is necessary to eliminate dangerous factors. Serial killings are not related to nationality but rather to socialization. As a society, we must avoid five deadly traps. No one is born a serial killer; society makes them one.
Since unraveling serial killings is difficult, collective action for the good of society is necessary, as the state cannot handle it alone. Dr. Mabila Matebula is an author, ghostwriter, and life coach with a PhD in construction management.