True Crime South Africa
True Crime South Africa covers solved and unsolved South African true crime cases.
Episode 31 - The Mine Dump Child Killer
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…
Episode 30 - The Murder of Taliep Petersen
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…
Episode 29 - The Jeppe Pyromaniac
1997 was a year in which a rare type of serial killer would make himself known in South Africa. The Jeppe Pyromaniac was not one of the country's most prolific serial killers by any stretch, but he was certainly one of the most unique. All the more confounding in this…
Episode 28 - The Murder of Gabriela Kabrins Alban
On the 29th of July 2015, staff at a Camps Bay hotel entered a room and discovered the brutally beaten and defiled body of 39-year-old American tourist, Gabriela Kabrins Alban. In what would become an international case, her Guatemalan boyfriend was arrested for her murder. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support…
Episode 27 - The Murder of Sheldean Human
On the 18th of February 2007, a quiet Sunday afternoon, 7-year-old Sheldean Human vanished from the front yard of her home. Two weeks later her murderer would point out the location of her body and questions would begin to be asked about more than just her death. (24-hr trauma helpline…
Episode 26 - The Murder of Michael Van Eck
On the 3rd of April 2011, a gruesome discovery in a cemetery in Welkom shocked the country. Part of a dismembered body was found in a shallow grave, but it would be the location of the rest of the remains and the young couple who were arrested for the crime…
Episode 25 - The Scissors Murder
In November 1974, 46-year-old housewife and mother, Susanna Van Der Linde was brutally beaten and stabbed to death with a pair of scissors in her home. The investigation would lead police into one of the most bizarre cases South Africa had ever seen and reveal its youngest female killer. (24-hr…
Episode 24 - The Murder of Connor Isaacs
On the 27th of March 2019, 14-year-old Connor Isaacs was home alone. It was school holidays and his dad was at work. Connor didn't mind, though, he was playing Xbox and they had moved to a new, safe neighbourhood just the week before. Sadly, Connor was anything but safe and…
Spotlight Minisode 14
In today's minisode we discuss an aspect of the Covid-19 lock down that could be overlooked with deadly consequences. We also have several updates on the murder of Tanya Flowerday which we covered in Episode 23. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on…
Episode 23 - The Murder of Tanya Flowerday
On the 13th of June 2003, 18-year-old Tanya Flowerday went to a club to watch friends play in a band. What should have been a night of innocent fun went horribly wrong when Tanya trusted the wrong person for a ride home. What followed was a horrific emotional roller coaster…
Spotlight Minisode - The Parole Predicament
In the last few months South Africa has seen a spate of vicious crimes committed by offenders who were out on bail or parole. This is not an isolated issue and in today's minisode we discuss South Africa's prison overcrowding and how our parole system is enabling violent offenders. (Support…
Episode 22 - The Murder of Frances Rasuge
On the 27th of August 2004, 27-year-old Frances Rasuge headed out to the hair salon to prepare for a weekend with her boyfriend. She would never be seen again. Over the next decade a story would unfold around Frances' disappearance, which had more twists and turns than anyone could ever…
A South African Mindhunter - with Dr Brin Hodgskiss
In 2009, Dr Brin Hodgskiss released the findings of a study he conducted on South African serial killers. In this episode we talk to Dr Hodgskiss about his conversations with 13 men incarcerated for some of the most horrendous serial murders that South Africa has ever seen (24-hr trauma line:…
Episode 21 - The Crimes of Advocate Barbie
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:…
Spotlight Minisode 12
In this week's minisode we cover four cases that are currently in the media including the kidnapping of 8-year-old Tazne van Wyk and all of the strange and frightening accusations being made about her kidnapper. (Support the show through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show through PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/truecrimeSA) (24-hr trauma helpline:…
Episode 20 - The Venter Family Massacre
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 prostitute. While out on bail and awaiting trial for this crime, he grew concerned that his family would cut ties with him if…
Spotlight Minisode 11
Siphesihle Dlamini was 3 years old when she was snatched from within metres of her mother and surrounded by an entire church congregation. Today's Spotlight minisode is dedicated to the ongoing search for Siphesihle. (Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Paypal: paypal.me/truecrimesa) (CIC 24-hour trauma centre: 082-821-3447)
Episode 19 - The Murder of Marlene Mauer
On the 10th of February 2006, 22-year-old Marlene Mauer left home for her first day of work at a new job. She never came home. Her murderer would be sentenced to 17 years in jail but that wasn't the end of Marlene's story. In December 2019, Marlene's mother would receive…
Spotlight Minisode 10 - An Australian Tribute
Today's minisode covers an Australian case with a South African link. We dedicate this episode to the human and animal victims of Australia's wildfires. For more information about how you can help, visit (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/01/07/australia-fires-how-to-help-donate-victims-animals/2832145001/)
Episode 18 - The Modimolle Monster
When Ina Bonnette met Johan Kotze she thought she had found the man of her dreams. Those dreams would soon turn into a nightmare she could never escape from when the true Johan Kotze showed his face resulting in one of the most sadistic cases of domestic violence and murder…