The case against a man accused of seven murders including those of five children was postponed in the Dzanani magistrate's court on Wednesday.
Mukosi Freddy Mulaudzi, 42, briefly appeared in the court after he was arrested on Monday, and his case was postponed to November 15 for further investigation.
He had been eluding police since his escape in 1996 from Pretoria's Baviaanspoort Prison, where he was serving several life sentences for other murders.
"We have been hunting this guy for about 10 years," Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo said.
Mulaudzi is charged with seven new counts of murder, rape and housebreaking and theft.
Mojapelo said Mulaudzi could also be connected to three counts of attempted murder, two of armed robbery, three of rape, four of murder, three counts of housebreaking and two cases of assault, all committed in the Siloam and Levubu areas in Limpopo since 2004.
Wednesday's appearance relates to the killing of Ndivhuwo Winnity Tshilimandila, 19, and Nyadzeni, 14, Shumani, 10, and Levhalesani Maxwell Sivhugwana, 7, who were hacked to death in their home on Thohoyandou in August.
In the same month he also allegedly killed Phophi Tracy Radzilani, 30, in her house with a sharp object.
Her two children, Rotondwa, 7, and Moses Mushiana, 5 months, were burnt beyond recognition in their bedroom. - Sapa