TimesLIVE Podcasts True Crime South Africa

True Crime South Africa

True Crime South Africa is the first victim-focused true-crime podcast in the country.

Host, Nicole Engelbrecht, researches each case herself using media coverage, trial footage, social media sources and often by talking to some of the individuals involved. Using her skills as a creative writer and her passion for true crime, she crafts each script to ensure that listeners are given a deep dive into the case mechanics as well as an understanding of the victims as human beings.

The podcast covers both solved and unsolved South African true crime cases. The unsolved cases are often cold cases which can benefit from awareness being brought to them. This concept has been used in the US for many years and to great success. The listenership formed around true crime podcasts becomes a community that advocates for victims and resolution for families. South African victims now have their own voice too.

True Crime South Africa publishes weekly, alternating between full-length case episodes and shorter minisodes which discuss true crime cases that are currently in the media. The podcast launched on the 22nd of June 2019 and is making waves in the South African podcast community. On the True Crime South Africa social media pages, South African true crime fans finally have a place to call home where they can express their views on cases and discuss the details with like-minded people.

True Crime South Africa is published in conjunction with Arena Holdings, publishers of TimesLIVE, BusinessLIVE, and SowetanLIVE. 

Keywords: crime, true crime, murder, abduction, South Africa, police, law and order
Weekly English Explicit South Africa True Crime · News Narrated by Scott Peter Smith
337 Episodes
240 – 260

Interview: "I Killed an Intruder"

On the 23rd of September 2020, a Middelburg woman wakes up to find an intruder in her home. Despite her best efforts to control the situation, she would be forced to make a decision that would change both their lives forever. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon…
15 Jan 2021 1 hr 03 min

Episode 46 - The Murder of Steven Harvey

In September 1999, a disabled man was viciously stabbed to death in his bedroom. It seemed like a horrible robbery gone wrong until his wife began to behave very strangely and then police received a telephone call (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show…
6 Jan 2021 47 min

Exclusive Sneak Peek: The Krugersdorp Cult Killings: Chapter 1

In this very special episode, we give you a sneak peek into the audiobook for The Krugersdorp Cult Killings by Jana Marx. Narrated by Nicole Engelbrecht, the book will be available on Audible in early 2021. This episode will be available for a limited time so listen now! (24-hr trauma…
17 Dec 2020 31 min

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) Support…
11 Dec 2020 54 min

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…
29 Nov 2020 56 min

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…
29 Nov 2020 56 min

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)…
19 Nov 2020 21 min

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…
13 Nov 2020 50 min

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…
5 Nov 2020 22 min

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…
30 Oct 2020 42 min

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…
22 Oct 2020 19 min

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…
15 Oct 2020 49 min

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…
8 Oct 2020 20 min

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…
1 Oct 2020 56 min

Episode 39 - Salie Lingevelt: A 1940s Serial Killer

True Crime South Africa — 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,…
17 Sep 2020 28 min

Episode 38 - The Disappearance of Eugeine Zane Nel

True Crime South Africa — 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…
10 Sep 2020 53 min

Spotlight Minisode 18

True Crime South Africa — 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) Support the Show…
27 Aug 2020 16 min

Episode 37 - The Screwdriver Rapist

True Crime South Africa — 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…
23 Aug 2020 36 min

Interview: Ryan Blumenthal - Author of Autopsy

True Crime South Africa — 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…
18 Aug 2020 52 min

Interview: Sean Baumann

True Crime South Africa — 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…
13 Aug 2020 57 min
240 – 260