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
280 – 300

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…
26 Mar 2020 21 min

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…
26 Mar 2020 21 min

Episode 23 - The Murder of Tanya Flowerday

True Crime South Africa — 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…
18 Mar 2020 44 min

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…
12 Mar 2020 22 min

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…
12 Mar 2020 22 min

Episode 22 - The Murder of Frances Rasuge

True Crime South Africa — 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…
5 Mar 2020 53 min

A South African Mindhunter - with Dr Brin Hodgskiss

True Crime South Africa — 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…
26 Feb 2020 1 hr 38 min

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:…
23 Feb 2020 1 hr 57 min

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:…
23 Feb 2020 1 hr 57 min

Spotlight Minisode 12

True Crime South Africa — 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…
13 Feb 2020 19 min

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…
6 Feb 2020 49 min

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…
6 Feb 2020 49 min

Spotlight Minisode 11

True Crime South Africa — 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)
30 Jan 2020 24 min

Episode 19 - The Murder of Marlene Mauer

True Crime South Africa — 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…
23 Jan 2020 29 min

Spotlight Minisode 10 - An Australian Tribute

True Crime South Africa — 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/) Support the Show for just R 15
17 Jan 2020 22 min

Episode 18 - The Modimolle Monster

True Crime South Africa — 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…
7 Jan 2020 1 hr 19 min

Episode 18 - The Modimolle Monster

True Crime South Africa — 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…
7 Jan 2020 1 hr 19 min

Spotlight Minisode 9

True Crime South Africa — In today's minisode we discuss two disturbing, recent "no body"murder convictions. There's an update from Episode 13 - The Samurai Killer and then we get a little more light-hearted with a round up of South Africa's dumbest criminals for the last decade. (Community Intervention Centre…
2 Jan 2020 23 min

Episode 17 - Daisy de Melker

True Crime South Africa — In 1932 Daisy de Melker was executed after being found guilty of murdering her son. This crime just scratched the surface of what she had done, though. The specter of Daisy de Melker still hangs over South Africa, a century later, as the epitome of…
26 Dec 2019 37 min

Episode 16 - The Murder of Leigh Matthews

True Crime South Africa — On the 9th of July 2004, 21-year-old Leigh Matthews was abducted from outside her university. Her kidnapper soon made contact and initiated an emotional roller coaster for her parents which would end with tragic results.
20 Dec 2019 33 min
280 – 300