A convicted killer who raped and beat an eight-year-old girl to death before sawing off her hand has been jailed for nearly 260 years.

Accused Moehydien Pangaker, 57, had snatched victim Tazne van Wyk on her way to a sweet shop before performing his sickening attack on 7th February 2020.

Her mutilated body was found dumped in a stormwater drain beside the N1 motorway in the town of Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa, 12 days later.

Judges at Western Cape High Court, Cape Town, on 14th February, sentenced Pangaker to nine life sentences and other charges totalling 259 years and six months.

The court had heard how Pangaker had only been out of jail for five years after serving years for the murder of his son when he killed Tazne.

Autopsy reports revealed that she had been beaten to death with injuries to her head, chest, neck and pelvic area.

One of her hands had been sawn off with an unknown object.

Prosecutors later charged Pangaker over Tazne’s killing and eight counts of rape of children, sexual assault, and sexual exploitation of children.

He was also charged with kidnapping, incest, desecration of a corpse and absconding from parole in October 2022.

But judge Alan Maher described him as a sexual predator who preyed on young girls.

Maher said: “His crimes are a hallmark of predatory behaviour. As the accused accepts no responsibilities for his crimes there is clearly no sign of rehabilitation.

“After he kidnapped Tazne, he had ample opportunity to change his mind.

“She died alone, away from her family in the dark and most probably in a lot of pain.

“The accused was not content on just raping, kidnapping and murder Tazne but desecrated her body and discarded her in a storm water drain.”

He went on: “The impact it has on her parents, family cannot be described. It’s permanent.

“The kidnapping of a child is every parent’s fear. From calls he received he knew how frantic her parents were and how angry the community was.

“His motive was purely sexual.”

Authorities ordered for his name to be entered into the National Sexual Offences Registry.