True Crime South Africa
True Crime South Africa covers solved and unsolved South African true crime cases.
Spotlight Minisode - The DNA Delay
DNA is thought to be the touchdown of criminal investigation. If you find it at a scene, you're all set for a speedy arrest and conviction, right? In this minisode, we discuss the reality behind DNA processing in South Africa, and why it may not be the tool we think…
Episode 41 - The Murder of Anene Booysen
In the early hours of the 2nd of February 2013, a security guard stumbled upon the body of a 17-year-old girl. She was barely clinging to life after enduring one of the most vicious sexual assaults South Africa had ever seen. With her last words she would name a man…
Spotlight Minisode 20
In today's minisode we discuss some of the cases that are in the media at the moment. We also have a follow up to Episode 37 - The Screwdriver Rapist in which we chat two people who knew William van der Merwe at the time of his crimes. (24-hr trauma…
Episode 40 - The Disappearance of Dawn Burn
A camping trip and reunion of three siblings goes horribly wrong, and when the sun rises in camp the next day, one of them is no longer there. 16 years later we are still asking: Where is Dawn Burn? (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support…
Episode 39 - Salie Lingevelt: A 1940s Serial Killer
Serial killers are not a modern concept. These terrifying predators have been hunting victims for far longer than we know. In this episode, we explore some of the first cases of serial murder in South Africa, and find out how these "pioneers" of dastardly deeds, paved the way for those…
Episode 38 - The Disappearance of Eugeine Zane Nel
On the 2nd of March 2016, Eugeine Zane Nel didn't go to work. Home sick with a migraine, his girlfriend left him asleep in bed. He has not been seen since (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) (https://www.facebook.com/EugeineZaneNelMissingperson)
Spotlight Minisode 18
In today's spotlight minisode we discuss the recent serial killings in Mthwalume, and two recent convictions that South Africans have been waiting to see handed down (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)
Episode 37 - The Screwdriver Rapist
In the 1970s, a serial rapist stalked South Africa. He would eventually be caught, and sentenced to death. Although this should have been the end of this story, it was just the beginning (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)
Interview: Ryan Blumenthal - Author of Autopsy
In today's episode, I interview Ryan Blumenthal, author of the newly-published book, Autopsy. Ryan is a forensic pathologist and his book is a fascinating foray into this vital component of the death investigation (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)
Interview: Sean Baumann - Author of Madness
Dr Sean Baumann's book, Madness: Stories of Uncertainty and Hope, has recently been published and in this episode, I chat to him about the book as well as his experience as a psychiatrist specializing in schizophrenia and psychotic illnesses (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support…
Episode 36 - The Unsolved Murder of Sibille Zanner
In September 2002, on a clear spring night, Sibille Zanner parked outside the home of her friends. She would be found half an hour later with a crossbow dart in her head. A year later, an arrest would be made, but this would just be the start of a mystery…
Spotlight Minisode 17
A round-up of the most shocking and tragic true-crime cases in the South African media in the last few weeks. (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) (Link to Dead Curious Podcast: https://deadcuriouspod.wixsite.com/info)
Episode 35 - The Crimes of "P"
In October 2002, a 12-year-old Pietermaritzburg girl was arrested on suspicion of murder. The girl, dubbed "P", would soon become South Africa's youngest convicted murderer (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)
Spotlight Minisode: The Missing
South Africa has a huge number of open, unsolved missing person cases at any given time. In this minisode, we discuss some of the advances that have been made by the SAPS to solve this problem and we look at 10 unsolved missing person cases (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support…
Episode 34 - The Adlington Family Murders
On the 16th of January 2002, something was very wrong in the Adlington family home. The events of that morning would leave only one survivor, barely clinging to life, with a terrifying story to tell (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal…
Interview with Tanya Farber
Just 5% of all murderers are female, but when they do commit murder, they are among the most heinous of criminals. Today we interview Tanya Farber, author of the compelling book, Blood on her Hands, and get some of her insights into women who kill (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support…
Episode 33 - The Murder of Karabo Mokoena
In April 2017, 22-year-old Karabo Mokoena went missing. Just a few days later her badly burned body was found in a field. Her boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe claimed she had committed suicide. The truth was far more horrific.(24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on…
Episode 32 - The Waterkloof 4 (Part 2)
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)
Episode 32 - The Waterkloof 4 - Part 1
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)…
Spotlight Minisode 15
Although crime statistics have plummeted during lockdown, the most horrific of criminals has not been stopped by its regulations. In our first minisode since the start of lockdown we discuss some of the vicious murders that have been committed in the last two months. Our first crime fiction book review…