True Crime South Africa
True Crime South Africa covers solved and unsolved South African true crime cases.
Episode 45 - The Crimes of Stewart Wilken
In January 1997 a man was arrested in connection with the disappearance of two children. What followed was the unveiling of the one the most bizarre serial killers South Africa has ever seen (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 44 - The Mystery of the Piercy Sisters
In October 2001, 16-year-old Edna Piercy left her home for a friend's house and disappeared without a trace. Nine months later, her younger sister, Blanche, also disappeared and was found murdered. For almost 20 years the mystery around these two crimes has only deepened, but now, we might just be…
Spotlight Minisode 23
In the last few weeks, Kwazulu-Natal has seen at least three horrific murders with senselessly violent injuries to young women. In this week's minisode, we delve into the possible motives behind these vicious murders (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 43 - The Bainskloof Murders
On the 25th of April 1997, police and rescuers descend down a rocky ravine to the scene of an apparent car accident. When they find the victims, though, a young couple, it becomes clear that this was no accident (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support…
Spotlight Minisode: Killer Wives
Although we are becoming all too familiar with male on female partner murders in South Africa, three recent cases seem to indicate that this trend may be shifting as more women are being accused of murdering their husbands. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the…
Episode 42 - The Disappearance of Desiree Reid
At 20 years old, Desiree Reid was doing her best to navigate the tumultuous waters of adulthood. She was on the right track and doing well, and then, she vanished. For 20 years her family has not given up hope of finding her, but the mystery endures: Where is Desiree…
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…