True Crime South Africa

Neighbours had called Sibusiso Mpungose an excellent father, citing how much time he seemed to spend with his children. But when his life began to unravel and it seemed he was going to have to answer for his actions, he chose instead to ensure that everyone left behind would suffer the real consequences. On an ordinary Tuesday in September 2019 he carried out a ghastly plan which would end four lives and forever alter many more. - 24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447 - Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa - Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide - The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter

In Part 2 of our coverage of the Waterkloof 4 case, we discuss some glaring inconsistencies in the evidence and ask the question - was justice really done? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

On the 3rd of December 2001, the body of an identified man was found in Moreleta Park. 18 months later, a teenager would confess to his teacher that he and six of his friends had been keeping a deadly secret. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This is a Rewind release of an episode originally published in May 2020. The episode has been re-recorded and updated with new and additional information. Sipho Dube was the embodiment of everything we fear. He was a child rapist and killer and he was almost completely invisible. Between 2002 and 2003, this phantom drifted between the mine dumps of JHB luring in children and then committing the most horrendous crimes. His eventual downfall would come in the form of a desperate father who just wanted justice for his little girl (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447)

Sipho Dube was the embodiment of everything we fear. He was a child rapist and killer and he was almost completely invisible. Between 2002 and 2003, this phantom drifted between the mine dumps of JHB luring in children and then committing the most horrendous crimes. His eventual downfall would come in the form of a desperate father who just wanted justice for his little girl (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Over a period of four months Gugulethu, Nyanga and Delft in the Western Cape, were terrorised by a violent and coldblooded gang. Among the victims was an entire family slain in their beds as they slept. When a seasoned investigator was put on the case, he started to make progress almost immediately, and soon realised that rather than a highly organised group of criminals, these crimes were being committed by two specific individuals with the occasional addition of random cohorts. Of those two, one would become the youngest offender to receive the longest sentence ever handed down in the Western Cape. - 24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447 - Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa - Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide - Disclaimer voiceover: Karabo Peter - Production of intro and outro music: Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa

25-year-old Sasha Lee Shah was building an incredible life for herself. She excelled academically, worked her way into a good job and was securing financial stability. The future was bright. But, by 2021, one part of Sasha Lee’s life was less steady. Her long-term relationship was crumbling under the weight of devastating revelations and Sasha Lee called it quits. Her ex, though, was not ready to let go, and his actions, as well as a failure of the system, destroyed countless lives, leaving a grieving mother fighting for justice. - 24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447 - Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa - Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide - The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter - The production of the intro and outro music was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in February 2020. Listen through to the end for an update including additional information I've received since the initial episode was published. Unlike most other rewind episodes, this one has been completely re-recorded in order to fully comply with regulations passed in 2022 around the anonymization of minor victims. In 2001, South Africa was introduced to Cezanne Visser's blonde bombshell, persona, Advocate Barbie. Her overt sexuality, was curated by her lover, Dirk Prinsloo. While their escapades shocked everyone, it would soon be revealed that the couple were up to something far more sinister behind the scenes - 24-hr trauma line: 082-821-3447) - Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa - Support the show on PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/truecrimeSA - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter. The production of the intro and outro music was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa

In 2001, South Africa was introduced to Cezanne Visser's blonde bombshell, persona, Advocate Barbie. Her overt sexuality, was curated by her lover, Dirk Prinsloo. While their escapades shocked everyone, it would soon be revealed that the couple were up to something far more sinister behind the scenes (24-hr trauma line: 082-821-3447) (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/truecrimeSA)

In 2004, Flippie Venter was on a peacekeeping mission in Burundi with the SANDF when he was arrested for the rape and murder of a 14-year-old child sex worker. While out on bail and awaiting trial for this crime, he grew concerned that his family would cut ties with him if he were to be found guilty. He picked up an R4 rifle and made the decision for them (24-hour trauma line: 082-821-3447) (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (PayPal: paypal.me/truecrimeSA)

Occasionally, a group of criminals commits a series of crimes so infamous that the story becomes part of South African crime folklore. When this happens, without fail, the story becomes distorted and sometimes, the reality of the brutality gets lost in the fray. This is the true story of a group of criminals who terrorised South Africa in 1913 and 1914 and the hidden legacy they left behind. Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter. Production of intro and outro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios 24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447 Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide

On the 20th of May 2014, 17 police officers and three social workers pulled up outside a double-storey house in a busy road in Springs on the East Rand of Gauteng. They’d received a complaint regarding a child at risk within the house. What they would discover beyond the seemingly, normal façade of this family home disturbed even seasoned child protection officers. (24-hour Trauma Helpline: 082-821-3447)

In March 2012, a family tearing up carpets in their property make a strange discovery. A confession letter will lead a group of investigators down the multi-layered rabbit hole of a 13 year old murder. This episode is sponsored by CBS Justice. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

As South Africans, it's not uncommon for us to hear an accused person claim that the devil made them do it. In her new book, accomplished academic and all-round cool human, Dr Nicky Falkof explores this segment of crime in our country, its origins and all the ways it influences justice. In this episode we discuss the book, some of its case studies and our experiences with occult crime allegations and the consequences for real victims. If this conversation has intrigued you or you have more questions for Nicky there'll be two opportunities in May this year where you can chat with both of us. On the 15th of May at The Franschhoek Literary Festival I will join Nicky Falkof, Sara-Jayne Makwala King, and David Cornwell - author of Hell of a Country - for our session called Ordinary Monsters. You can book tickets for that on the Franschoek Literary Festival’s website. On the 23rd of May, I will join Nicky, Julian Jansen - author of the Murder of Deveney Nel - and Tara Penny of Hot FM at the Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg. Tickets for that will be available soon on Kingsmead’s website. I look forward to seeing all of you there. - 24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447 - Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter. The intro and outro production was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios

28 year old Donovan de Jongh was a vulnerable man living with intellectual disabilities in the Western Cape when he was lured into a vehicle with three men with the promise of some take away food for dinner. What followed was an incredibly horrendous crime which shocked even communities who lived among gang violence on a daily basis. It would also make legal history in South Africa. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter and production of intro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios

In the early 1990s Norwood was shaken by a series of violent rapes and murders. When the violence spread to areas on the East Rand, police had to wonder if this was the same perpetrator. It was vital to catch him as quickly as possible, but there was also a serious possibility that this predator was one of them. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

In 2019 and 2022 two major events changed the legislation which governs the publication of the names of minor offenders, victims and witnesses in South Africa. These are changes that are vital for every South African to understand. In this episode I unpack why the changes happened and it what it means for content creators and ordinary citizens. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Don't forget to book your tickets for the live Zoom recording of episode 200: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/359328-record-episode-200-with-true-crime-south-africa/

Where the heck is episode 200, Nicole? I’ve been asked this question a lot recently, and if you don’t follow the podcast on social media you might not know the answer. So, here it is: Because episode 200 is a pretty big milestone for the podcast and all of you awesome listeners, I’m trying to set up something a bit different for it. You’ll see I have been releasing content in the meantime, just not full case episodes, and I promise the wait will not be much longer and it will definitely be worth it. Keep an eye on the feed and on social media (if you’re on there) for more information about how you can … maybe… get involved in the making of episode 200. I’ll chat to you soon.

I am very quickly popping into your feed to tell you about two new movies hitting the big screen on the 6th of February. You’ll hear ads for these two being inserted into your feed around now and if you want to win tickets to see them you should definitely keep an eye on the pod’s social media. Here’s me telling you about Wildcat and The Strangers Chapter 3

Gangsterism continues to stand in the way of communities trying to live peaceful lives and raise children in safety. In this discussion with fiction writer, James Fouche, we unpack the very real cost of crime on ordinary South Africans and how he has tried to portray that through the characters in his new book, Gray. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Find James and his new book on www.jamesfouche.com

The brand-new release movie Dead Man's Wire hits cinemas across South Africa on 23 January, and it is based on a very real and incredibly bizarre story. In this companion podcast - brought to you by Empire Entertainment - we delve down into the true story behind a 68-hour hostage drama that changed the media, law enforcement and the legal world.

Part 2 of 2 In 2015 a slew of Hawks officers descended on a nondescript home in Bloemfontein. After detaining Danish national Peter Frederiksen the officers' first stop was his freezer. Inside, they found exactly what Peter's terrified wife had confessed they would. That discovery, though, was just the beginning of a very dark road they were about to head down with Frederiksen which spanned almost his entire life. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

In 2015 a slew of Hawks officers descended on a nondescript home in Bloemfontein. After detaining Danish national Peter Frederiksen the officers' first stop was his freezer. Inside, they found exactly what Peter's terrified wife had confessed they would. That discovery, though, was just the beginning of a very dark road they were about to head down with Frederiksen which spanned almost his entire life. This is part 1 of 2.

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in December 2022. Listen through to the end for an update including additional information I've received since the initial episode was published. When 20-year-old Siam Lee went missing from her place of work in Kwazulu-Natal in 2018, her disappearance made headlines for all the wrong reasons. As the story developed, she and her mother would be cast as one-dimensional characters in the story being told about them. When Siam's remains were found, though, attention would shift to her alleged murderer and justice for Siam seemed to hang in the balance. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00:01:00 Support the Show 00:01:01 - 00:03:21 Rewind Info 00:03:22 - 01:51:00 Rewind Episode Begins 01:51:00 - 01:58:00 Updates

In the 1950s in the KZN Midlands, one of the country's first recorded serial killers began a series of crimes which would go down in history for a few different reasons. More than 70 years later, this vintage true crime case remains one of the most infamous tales of coldblooded murder in South Africa. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

When a well-known magistrate is found murdered in her home, the Crimes Against the State unit are called in to investigate what could be another terrible silencing of a voice of justice. The truth behind Romay van Rooyen's murder, though, was far closer to home. This episode was first released in the Patreon feed in Feb 2025 Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00:00:09 Intro 00:10:00 - 00:03:48 Support the Show 00:03:49 - 00:46:00 Episode (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on sacriminologist.co.za 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

This is a crossover episode from Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast. In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht is interviewed by journalist and director of Beauty and the Bester, Anthony Molyneaux about Nicole's new book: Bare Bones: Cold Cases From True Crime South Africa

In 2023, a middle-aged accountant stood in the dock in the JHB Specialised Crimes Court at Palm Ridge and received a 25 year sentence. Her unassuming appearance belied the 13 years she had spent systematically draining her employer's bank account. In the end, the judge would say that this was the most significant financial crime he had ever presided over. Steenkamp, though, claimed it wasn't all her fault. This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in October 2024

When a family of four is attacked in their home and there is only one survivor, with a regularly alternating version of what occurred, Vanderbijlpark police quickly become suspicious. When the truth is finally revealed, it is far more horrendous than anyone could ever have imagined. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

The brand-new release movie Shelby Oaks hits cinemas across South Africa today, and in addition to being an incredible film in the horror genre, it also brings several true crime themes to the fore. When Riley Brennan goes missing her sister Mia is thrust into the world of missing people and the ambiguous loss and deep desperation that accompanies the experience. In this companion podcast - brought to you by Empire Entertainment - we delve down into this most raw of human experiences and explore real-life examples of missing person cases that changed families, communities and the world. Shelby Oaks releases in cinemas nationwide on 24 October 2025. Do not miss it!

In 2002 Claudia Mokone was killed after being struck with shrapnel from a bomb blast near her home. Her senseless death was part of a much larger plan for a group of men who called themselves the Boeremag. In this episode I discuss the case, the group and their trial with the author of the book The High Treason Club, Karin Mitchell, and the SAPS detective who cracked the case, Col. Tollie Vreugdenburg. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In 2004 a recreation spot in Newcastle became the hunting ground for a serial predator. In a series of crimes that mirrored the still-unsolved Zodiac series in the US, couples seeking out some alone time in the park were targeted. The killer's arrest would occur in the most unexpected way. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Recent headlines about SA influencers promoting an allegedly exploitative work program in Russia had the public in an uproar, but those who work in the entertainment industry were less surprised. In this episode I explore the dark side of the glitzy photos and bright lights of fame. I'm joined by the incredible Rosie Motene who shares personal insights from her 30 years in the industry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Rosie's blog: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dreams-for-sale-137364267?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link&fbclid=IwY2xjawMiCNdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHloq9pE0a5RTV5CqXGubq2a51PMmtIj-vuY1I6HsV8d9mk7FzBER8iFHKd_v_aem_XWheAIQG4_Tnv3btzOARtw Rosie's life coaching space: https://www.letsatsihealing.info/ The official report on Alabuga Start: https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/who-is-making-russias-drones/ NDA enforcement in South Africa: https://www.polity.org.za/article/ndas-and-workplace-harassment-south-africas-existing-legal-protections-2025-08-12 (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

I’m dropping into your feed to tell you about a very cool podcast I’ve just discovered that I think you’ll really like. Radio Workshop is a documentary-style podcast about youth issues in Africa. One of the things I love most about podcasting is that it provides a platform for previously untold stories to be heard with a lower barrier to entry and Radio Workshop does this really beautifully. You’ll hear real life stories from young African people about challenging situations and the incredible power of the human spirit to overcome. Here’s the podcast’s trailer and I’ve linked one of their most recent episodes in the show notes of this episode drop. I highly recommend giving Radio Workshop a listen. Listen to Radio Workshop: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1t35ksL60U9rMSYRsQTodc?si=1d4838a1120d4e86

This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in May 2023. Working in a prison environment is a dangerous undertaking, but most correctional centre employees would expect the danger to come from the incarcerated offenders. When three young prison wardens set out on a brief errand for their employer, though, they will soon realise that the danger was far closer than they thought. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Stolen Girl Official Companion Podcast Part 2 of 2 - Child Abduction in South Africa In part 1 of the Stolen Girl Companion podcast we delved into the real-life case of Maureen Dabbagh and her daughter, Nadia, who was abducted and taken to Syria by her father in the 90s. In this 2nd and final part of the podcast we talk about the reality of child abduction in South Africa and what we can do to prevent it. I'm joined by Bianca van Aswegan of Missing Children South Africa for grassroots insights on this terrifying scourge. The brand-new release movie based on this real-life story, Stolen Girl, is out in cinemas now. This companion podcast is brought to you by Filmfinity. Access resources discussed in this podcast at www.missingchildren.org.za

Stolen Girl Official Companion Podcast Part 1 of 2 - Finding Nadia When Maureen Dabbagh's ex-husband fails to return their two-year-old daughter from a scheduled visitation, it sets off a series of events which will change all three lives forever. Now, Maureen must become a completely different person in order to rescue her daughter when the justice system seems to have no way to help. The brand new release movie based on this real-life story, Stolen Girl, is out in cinemas now. This companion podcast is brought to you by Filmfinity.

When Rachel Dolly Tshabalala was discovered deceased in her partner's home, the riddle of her murder seemed simultaneously obvious and utterly baffling. Was the man she had given her heart to the ferocious supporter of woman's rights he presented to the world or was he hiding a dark side? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. Part 3 This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's the first time they're in the TCSA feed and the new eps contain interviews and additional info not in the original episode.

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. Part 2 This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's the first time they're in the TCSA feed and the new eps contain interviews and additional info not in the original episode.

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. Part 1 This episode rewinds back to episode 110 - the murder of Marna Engelbrecht and Sharnelle Hough and as your rewind update, I've converted this into a three-part series which now includes the two companion episodes I created for the tv series Stella Murders. It's the first time they're in the TCSA feed and the new eps contain interviews and additional info not in the original episode.

When an ordinary South African finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, she starts to see the gaps in the system that are deeply failing families and justice professionals. Sophia Dewberry was not willing to sit back and lament the situation, though. Instead, she has started an organisation that she hopes will help to move criminal investigations forward faster and more efficiently and give victims of crime the justice they deserve. Visit the Case Forward website here: https://caseforward.org/ (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447; Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa; Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Dillie Scholtz didn't have far to go. It was just 56 metres from her house to her car, but somewhere in between those two points she vanished. Six days later the police officers who had claimed she'd run off with a secret lover would break the news to her horrified family that they had found her body. And the killer had left a calling card of sorts in her grave. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

As the new Showmax Original series, The ABC Killer, drops, I revisit the case I first covered in episode nine with a review of the series, an interview of director Jasyn Howes and some anecdotes I've received from people who have had personal experiences with this infamous serial murderer over the years. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In a single weekend in 1998 four men wrought havoc on Cape Town and its surrounds. By the time their horrendous spree was complete four people would be dead, another two scarred for life and countless others would be changed forever. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In 2022, Stefan van Niekerk ran into a community clinic and handed over a small bundle wrapped in a blanket to nurses. His claims of a terrible drowning accident were soon in question and the true horror of what had led to the death of 2-year-old Chevonne Rusch would begin to unravel like a nightmarish coil. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In February 2000, the silence of a Western Cape farm is ripped apart by a mass murder. With seven people dead and three more injured, the perpetrator flees to the mountains of the Koue Bokkeveld and a community and several families will never be the same. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in April 2023. When Elizabeth Martiens said goodbye to her father after the school holidays and headed home to her mom, no one had any idea that this would be their last goodbye. When Elizabeth doesn't make it home, eyes turn to the man she was last seen with - her father's employer - and some dark questions start to rise to the surface. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in December 2021. When a Dutch exchange student goes missing while in South Africa, her family, desperate for answers, pin their hopes on South African authorities to find their daughter. When they do, it will be in the worst possible circumstances, and a lifelong chameleon of crime will be unmasked. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In 1997 amidst a surge of serial murder cases across the country, one man began hunting victims in Kroonstad. After very nearly getting away with it, an eagle-eyed cop would bring the series of murders to an end (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Almost two decades after the horrendous double murder, the families are still dealing with the fallout of the crimes and unresolved grief. Then, a conversation in a prison cell changes everything. And just when the families think they may be able to move forward, more bombshells are dropped on their lives. This is part 2 of a two-part podcast series created in collaboration with KykNet around their drama series, Niggies. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In 1966, in Odendalsrus, two 12-year-old cousins, Petro Nel and Issie Fourie, walked to the swimming pool to cool off. They were never seen alive again. As the horror in an abandoned building is discovered, the town and three of its families will never be the same. While police launch a massive manhunt for the killers, Issie’s teenage brother makes a vow to ensure she gets justice. It’s a promise he plans to keep - no matter what. This is part 1 of a two-part podcast series created in collaboration with KykNet around their drama series, Niggies. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in May 2020. Listen through to the end for an update. On the 16th of December 2006, South Africa lost one of its brightest stars in the performing arts. Taliep Petersen was gunned down in what, at the time, seemed to be a home invasion gone wrong. Soon though, evidence would emerge that this devastating loss had been caused by someone far closer to home. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

This is me popping into your feed with some updates on a few project deadlines I'm juggling and news on what you can expect to see on TCSA in the next two months.

In 1985, a single night of unprovoked violence in a tiny fishing village on the West Coast would change the town forever. The man with the axe and his killing spree would become the stuff of legend in the town for decades. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

A group of people, mostly ordinary South Africans, but also a few multimillionaires, woke up one morning in October 2023 to discover that an investment fund they'd counted on for an income for up to 22 years was a complete sham. Overnight, their monthly dividends became the spoils of a criminal scheme, and their lives and futures were changed forever. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

On a street in Springs, Gauteng, a barbershop sat among many other businesses. Besides being boldly painted there was little that set the property apart from all the others on the street. In 2017, a missing child and a police raid revealed that the bright signage masked a dark truth. The barbershop was far more than an innocuous small business. It was a shop of horrors. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In 2004 in Inanda, KZN, a man lost his life, and two others were injured in an armed robbery of a vehicle. When an arrest was made the next morning, the victims likely heaved a sigh of relief, but for the arrestee, 16 years of horror lay ahead. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) Read more about the issue of wrongful conviction compensation: https://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1682-58532023000100004#:~:text=Case%20law%20from%20South%20Africa,they%20are%20to%20be%20compensated.

If you follow the podcast on social media, you’ll have seen me talking about True Crime South Africa taking part in an international event to raise awareness for charities all over the world. From the 15th of March until 21st of March podcasters all over the world are dedicated one episode in their feed to the Podcasthon. We got to select a charity we wanted to highlight, and I picked Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust because sexual violence is a topic that is terrifyingly prevalent in so many of the cases I discuss on this podcast and we desperately need to be having more conversations about this topic. I first aired the interview you’ll hear today on the podcast in 2022. And it was such a valuable conversation about so many important topics including consent within relationships and other rarely discussed issues. The interviewee in the podcast is Ronel Koekemoer. She is an incredible human I’ve had the privilege of meeting through my work over the last six years. At the time of this interview, she worked for Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust. She has since left, but she is still hugely supportive of the organisation and Ronel is still working in the gender-based violence activism space, furthering her education in the field and working on incredible projects. https://rapecrisis.org.za/ https://podcasthon.org/ (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When Lynette Volschenk failed to arrive for work, her colleagues were immediately concerned and went to her home. The young man they found in her apartment claimed he'd been hired by Lynette to clean and paint, but within 30 minutes, he was in handcuffs and a very different and terrifying story came to light. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a 3-year-old girl goes missing from her home, a desperate 9-day search ensues by police, her family and community. All manner of possibilities are considered, but the truth lies far closer to home than anyone would suspect. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When the people of Phoswa Village in Mpumalanga suddenly found themselves the targets of an armed serial predator in 1997, no one was sure who they could trust. Almost a year after the murders began, a task team was formed to hunt down the Saloon Killer, but the path to justice was littered with investigative challenges and the perpetrator took full advantage. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When Jaco Engelbrecht was found dead at his home, his wife was the first and only suspect. The trial, though, would not play out like any ordinary murder trial and the verdict and sentence would leave South Africa grappling with the definition of justice and to whom it should apply (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

True Crime South Africa Specials focus in on one specific true crime topic taking listeners on a deep dive. This special focuses on Human Trafficking (Part 3/3) - What is it? Who and where are the victims? Who are the perpetrators? Listen to the first two parts of the series: Special: Human Trafficking Part 1 https://iono.fm/e/1444050 Special: Human Trafficking Part 2 https://iono.fm/e/1447458 Other related episodes: Financial Crimes in South Africa https://iono.fm/e/1372890 Check out the organisations mentioned: https://www.a21.org/index.php https://www.lovejustice.ngo/south-africa https://www.stronger2gether.org/za/ Human Trafficking Hotline: 0800-222-777 (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa?locale.x=en_US)

A retired man goes missing and his fiancé says he went golfing and never returned home. When his body is found in his vehicle, though, the evidence doesn't match the story, but police are stumped until someone just can't hold the truth in anymore. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a young couple move into a suburban townhouse complex, they quickly ingratiate themselves into the community. They seem like a lovely pair - ordinary, just living life like anyone else. What their neighbours don't know is that the pair have a dark past and an even darker future - one that they're all about to be pulled into. (This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in November 2023. Certain sections have been edited to make it suitable for the regular feed). (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When an unsuspecting motorist picks up a young couple who simply looks down on their luck, his life changes forever. When the couple, calling themselves Bonnie & Clyde, finally hand themselves over, the question remains, who really called the shots? (This episode was first published in the TCSA Exclusives Patreon Feed in July 2023) (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Idea Candy and Showmax recently released a documentary film about one of South Africa's most notorious unresolved serial crimes. The Station Strangler explores the disappearance and subsequent murder of 22 boys from Mitchells Plein from the 1980s until a face was given to the terrifying phantom. With Norman Simons now out on parole for the single murder he was convicted of, this film uncovers the deep pain that still exists around this case. In this episode I speak with the director, Nadine Cloete about her experience in delving into this case which was so close to home. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

I don’t know about you, but I really love fiction and audio drama podcasts. It’s like a watching a movie, but with your ears. So, listening to a movie, I guess - but way better. And although South Africa’s podcast landscape has grown hugely in the last five years that I’ve been doing this, we haven’t yet ventured into fictionalised podcasts and that wait is over! South Africa’s first audio drama podcast has hit the air…um…internet waves and it is so good! So good in fact that I wanted to share a promo for it here in the feed to help get more listeners to it because I’d really like to see more of these. It’s also a really important story - the basis of which is actually a real life tale. Listen to Stripped: https://startlivingmy.life/web/stripped/ https://soundcloud.com/thomas-w-e-budge/stripped-an-audio-drama-podcast?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

26 year old Allison Plaatjies life is on an upward trajectory. She's just got her first full-time teaching post, her first car and she's living in her own flat. But there is one part of Allison's life that is not going as planned. Her ex-boyfriend refuses to leave her alone and soon, his obsession will turn deadly. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In today's episode I have the incredible pleasure of chatting with one of the world's most successful crime fiction writers, Deon Meyer. Meyer's books have enthralled and captivated readers in South Africa for decades and our conversation reveals how that often entails getting closer to real crime than one might think. This interview was first published on Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast. To hear more interviews with South African authors, follow Pagecast wherever you listen to True Crime South Africa.

Today I’m popping into your feed to introduce you to a podcast I love. Something Shifted is created and hosted by Sean Loots who is an incredible human and someone I’m very honoured to know. I already know you appreciate real life stories and true crime listeners often also listen to other stories of survival and big life events, so I have no doubt you’re going to love Something Shifted as much as I do. I highly recommend you subscribe to Something Shifted wherever you listen to True Crime South Africa. Find all the links on the website: https://somethingshifted.co.za/

Between 2015 and 2018, retirement homes in Gauteng and Mpumalanga became the scenes of horrific murders. Some of the most vulnerable members of society were being targeted and the clock was running down for police to make an arrest before another woman was killed (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a woman arrives at the home of a rural plot owner begging for assistance to take her own life, a tale of filicide unfolds unlike anything seen in South African courts before. Did a combination of medication result in the death of two young children? Or was the motive much less complicated than that? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Today, I’m happy to bring you a sneak preview of the first episode of When Change Happens, a podcast series about ordinary South Africans coping with extraordinary changes in their lives, and hosted by legendary journalist Ruda Landman. To hear the rest subscribe to When Change Happens on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Iono or go to www.changepodcasts.co za for more information. In this episode of When Change Happens: Author and comedian, Costa Carastavrakis chats to our host, Ruda Landman, about his journey to recovery after battling a drug and alcohol addiction. He details where and how his struggles with addiction started and the life-changing moment that forced him to turn his life around and change for the better.

From 2014, a serial predator had been roaming the suburbs of Tshwane. His modus operandi was so well thought-out that for five years he remained undetected. Then, a detective with a personal mission driving her singular professional focus is assigned to the case, and soon the predator has nowhere left to run (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Each year, countries across the world submit their most memorable and groundbreaking forensic DNA success stories for the DNA Hit of the Year. In this bonus episode, brought to you by the lovely folk at Solal, you'll hear about the six finalists. These are cases that will blow your mind with the power of DNA!

Alberto Costa was sure that he had done everything he could to secure his home on a farm in Stellenbosch, but there was a group of men living nearby who had decided they wanted what was in his house, and they were not going to let anything stand in their way. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When medical student Tshepang Pitse suddenly stops answering her dad's calls and messages he presumes his daughter is deep in her studies, but when a horrific discovery is made in her boyfriend's freezer, a terrible tale of abuse and manipulation spills out. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

A young woman delivers her baby boy at home one month before his due date. As neighbours gather to help, accusations begin to fly and soon Nolubabalo Nomsuka is swept up in a torrent of lies and assumptions that will change her life forever. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a family is attacked by a stranger in their home, three of their members are shot and struck with an axe. As police quickly arrest one bloodied fleeing perpetrator another remains unaccounted for - but he's closer than anyone thinks. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a man is arrested for rape in 2014, his victim believes justice will move swiftly for her. The system, though, was not geared up to properly deal with this serial predator and soon multiple victims will fall through the cracks and be forced to find their own justice. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

In this crossover episode with Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast, I interview Dr Brin Hodgskiss about our new true crime book Killer Stories - Conversations with South African Serial Murderers.

Introducing a NEW investigation from the BBC’s World of Secrets podcast: The Apartheid Killer. All the victims were black and the youngest was just 12 years old. Some relatives are still searching for the graves. They were killed during a three-year bloodbath in the 1980s, in the South African city of East London – by one person. He killed so many, he lost count. It has been 30 years since the white supremacist apartheid regime crumbled. The unresolved trauma of this time has cast a long shadow across a nation. In piecing together this story, the new season of World of Secrets exposes the disturbed past and racial injustices of South Africa itself. Search for World of Secrets, wherever you get your podcasts. World of Secrets is the BBC podcast about the stories they don’t want told. Delve into a World of Secrets – major BBC global investigations and gripping storytelling. Holding the powerful to account and exposing scandals around the world.

As John Langeveldt lay in the dark in his bedroom, he claims he could no longer take the bickering among his family members, and the axe under his nephew's bed seemed like the solution. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When the sugar cane fields of Kwazulu Natal become a dumping ground for a vicious serial killer, police are playing catch-up in a terrifying game of life and death. For every move the killer makes, the police seem to be two steps behind him, and the victim count is growing. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When a young budding singer was brutally attacked in the middle of the day on a crowded road in Umlazi, the man's killer seemed to have no shame about his gruesome actions. What kind of rage or illogical hatred would cause someone to take the life of another in such a cruel way, and why was Lindokuhle Cele's life cut short? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

When Julia Engelhorn divorced her husband Mario, she had no idea that a spark of fury had been ignited within him which would soon lead to an explosion of pain and grief for her entire family. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Table Mountain is an iconic destination for South Africans and tourists alike. The national park that stretches beyond its slopes form the perfect playground for hikers, trail runners, and cyclists. In October 2017, though, the peaceful mountain park became a hunting ground and both predator and prey were human. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

True Crime South Africa Specials focus in on one specific true crime topic taking listeners on a deep dive. This special focuses on Human Trafficking (Part 2) - What is it? Who and where are the victims? Who are the perpetrators? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

Just a quick message from me about what you can expect on the pod over the next week or two and an invite to join me at my JHB Book Launch at Exclusive Books Clearwater Mall on Thursday 6 June 2024. RSVP to exclusivebooks.com/events

In this companion podcast series to the Showmax Original Catch Me A Killer, True Crime South Africa host and creator, Nicole Engelbrecht, delves into the details of the case presented in the series. In this episode (the companion to episode 10) we look at the crimes of Velaphi Ndlangamandla also known as the Saloon Killer.

In this companion podcast series to the Showmax Original Catch Me A Killer, True Crime South Africa host and creator, Nicole Engelbrecht, delves into the details of the case presented in the series. In this episode (the companion to episode 8 & 9) we look at the crimes of Sipho Twala also known as the Phoenix Strangler.

In this companion podcast series to the Showmax Original Catch Me A Killer, True Crime South Africa host and creator, Nicole Engelbrecht, delves into the details of the case presented in the series. In this episode (the companion to episode 7) we look at the crimes of Stewart Wilken. Listen to the original full-length episode on this case here: https://iono.fm/e/969796

In this companion podcast series to the Showmax Original Catch Me A Killer, True Crime South Africa host and creator, Nicole Engelbrecht, delves into the details of the case presented in the series. In this episode (the companion to episode 6) we look at the unsolved case of the Cape Town Sex Worker Killer. Listen to the original full-length episode on this case here: https://iono.fm/e/1434689

True Crime South Africa Specials focus in on one specific true crime topic taking listeners on a deep dive. This special focuses on Human Trafficking (Part 1) - What is it? Who and where are the victims? Who are the perpetrators? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)

The Showmax Original documentary, Original Sin: My Son The Killer is a tragic and fascinating deep dive into the murder of Andrea Venter. In addition to the themes of domestic violence, stalking, and intimate partner murder, the documentary also explores a mother's pain in acknowledging the role she may have played in her son's crime and her own tragic past.

The Showmax Original Tracking Thabo Bester took viewers behind the public furore around an escaped convict and the glamourous doctor who allegedly aided him. In this companion podcast, I speak with two of the contributors to this compelling docuseries (well, three, if you count me...) to take a deeper dive into some of the unanswered questions.

In 1997, a shocking intimate partner murder shook the country. The victim had feared for her life and then been killed with an axe in her own home. The offender was known, but it would be the outcome of the case that, even today, is questionable. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa)