True Crime South Africa

Occasionally, a group of criminals commits a series of crimes so infamous that the story becomes part of South African crime folklore. When this happens, without fail, the story becomes distorted and sometimes, the reality of the brutality gets lost in the fray. This is the true story of a group of criminals who terrorised South Africa in 1913 and 1914 and the hidden legacy they left behind. Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter. Production of intro and outro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios 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 Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

As South Africans, it's not uncommon for us to hear an accused person claim that the devil made them do it. In her new book, accomplished academic and all-round cool human, Dr Nicky Falkof explores this segment of crime in our country, its origins and all the ways it influences justice. In this episode we discuss the book, some of its case studies and our experiences with occult crime allegations and the consequences for real victims. If this conversation has intrigued you or you have more questions for Nicky there'll be two opportunities in May this year where you can chat with both of us. On the 15th of May at The Franschhoek Literary Festival I will join Nicky Falkof, Sara-Jayne Makwala King, and David Cornwell - author of Hell of a Country - for our session called Ordinary Monsters. You can book tickets for that on the Franschoek Literary Festival’s website. On the 23rd of May, I will join Nicky, Julian Jansen - author of the Murder of Deveney Nel - and Tara Penny of Hot FM at the Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg. Tickets for that will be available soon on Kingsmead’s website. I look forward to seeing all of you there. - 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 - Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter. The intro and outro production was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

28 year old Donovan de Jongh was a vulnerable man living with intellectual disabilities in the Western Cape when he was lured into a vehicle with three men with the promise of some take away food for dinner. What followed was an incredibly horrendous crime which shocked even communities who lived among gang violence on a daily basis. It would also make legal history in South Africa. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter and production of intro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

In the early 1990s Norwood was shaken by a series of violent rapes and murders. When the violence spread to areas on the East Rand, police had to wonder if this was the same perpetrator. It was vital to catch him as quickly as possible, but there was also a serious possibility that this predator was one of them. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

In 2019 and 2022 two major events changed the legislation which governs the publication of the names of minor offenders, victims and witnesses in South Africa. These are changes that are vital for every South African to understand. In this episode I unpack why the changes happened and it what it means for content creators and ordinary citizens. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Don't forget to book your tickets for the live Zoom recording of episode 200: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/359328-record-episode-200-with-true-crime-south-africa/ Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Where the heck is episode 200, Nicole? I’ve been asked this question a lot recently, and if you don’t follow the podcast on social media you might not know the answer. So, here it is: Because episode 200 is a pretty big milestone for the podcast and all of you awesome listeners, I’m trying to set up something a bit different for it. You’ll see I have been releasing content in the meantime, just not full case episodes, and I promise the wait will not be much longer and it will definitely be worth it. Keep an eye on the feed and on social media (if you’re on there) for more information about how you can … maybe… get involved in the making of episode 200. I’ll chat to you soon. Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

I am very quickly popping into your feed to tell you about two new movies hitting the big screen on the 6th of February. You’ll hear ads for these two being inserted into your feed around now and if you want to win tickets to see them you should definitely keep an eye on the pod’s social media. Here’s me telling you about Wildcat and The Strangers Chapter 3 Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Gangsterism continues to stand in the way of communities trying to live peaceful lives and raise children in safety. In this discussion with fiction writer, James Fouche, we unpack the very real cost of crime on ordinary South Africans and how he has tried to portray that through the characters in his new book, Gray. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Find James and his new book on www.jamesfouche.com Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

The brand-new release movie Dead Man's Wire hits cinemas across South Africa on 23 January, and it is based on a very real and incredibly bizarre story. In this companion podcast - brought to you by Empire Entertainment - we delve down into the true story behind a 68-hour hostage drama that changed the media, law enforcement and the legal world. Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Part 2 of 2 In 2015 a slew of Hawks officers descended on a nondescript home in Bloemfontein. After detaining Danish national Peter Frederiksen the officers' first stop was his freezer. Inside, they found exactly what Peter's terrified wife had confessed they would. That discovery, though, was just the beginning of a very dark road they were about to head down with Frederiksen which spanned almost his entire life. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

In 2015 a slew of Hawks officers descended on a nondescript home in Bloemfontein. After detaining Danish national Peter Frederiksen the officers' first stop was his freezer. Inside, they found exactly what Peter's terrified wife had confessed they would. That discovery, though, was just the beginning of a very dark road they were about to head down with Frederiksen which spanned almost his entire life. This is part 1 of 2. Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in December 2022. Listen through to the end for an update including additional information I've received since the initial episode was published. When 20-year-old Siam Lee went missing from her place of work in Kwazulu-Natal in 2018, her disappearance made headlines for all the wrong reasons. As the story developed, she and her mother would be cast as one-dimensional characters in the story being told about them. When Siam's remains were found, though, attention would shift to her alleged murderer and justice for Siam seemed to hang in the balance. (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) Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00:01:00 Support the Show 00:01:01 - 00:03:21 Rewind Info 00:03:22 - 01:51:00 Rewind Episode Begins 01:51:00 - 01:58:00 Updates Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

In the 1950s in the KZN Midlands, one of the country's first recorded serial killers began a series of crimes which would go down in history for a few different reasons. More than 70 years later, this vintage true crime case remains one of the most infamous tales of coldblooded murder in South Africa. (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

When a well-known magistrate is found murdered in her home, the Crimes Against the State unit are called in to investigate what could be another terrible silencing of a voice of justice. The truth behind Romay van Rooyen's murder, though, was far closer to home. This episode was first released in the Patreon feed in Feb 2025 Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00:00:09 Intro 00:10:00 - 00:03:48 Support the Show 00:03:49 - 00:46:00 Episode (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) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on sacriminologist.co.za 10% off with code TCSA sitewide) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

This is a crossover episode from Jonathan Ball's Pagecast podcast. In this episode, Nicole Engelbrecht is interviewed by journalist and director of Beauty and the Bester, Anthony Molyneaux about Nicole's new book: Bare Bones: Cold Cases From True Crime South Africa Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

In 2023, a middle-aged accountant stood in the dock in the JHB Specialised Crimes Court at Palm Ridge and received a 25 year sentence. Her unassuming appearance belied the 13 years she had spent systematically draining her employer's bank account. In the end, the judge would say that this was the most significant financial crime he had ever presided over. Steenkamp, though, claimed it wasn't all her fault. This episode was first published in the Patreon feed in October 2024 Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

When a family of four is attacked in their home and there is only one survivor, with a regularly alternating version of what occurred, Vanderbijlpark police quickly become suspicious. When the truth is finally revealed, it is far more horrendous than anyone could ever have imagined. (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) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

The brand-new release movie Shelby Oaks hits cinemas across South Africa today, and in addition to being an incredible film in the horror genre, it also brings several true crime themes to the fore. When Riley Brennan goes missing her sister Mia is thrust into the world of missing people and the ambiguous loss and deep desperation that accompanies the experience. In this companion podcast - brought to you by Empire Entertainment - we delve down into this most raw of human experiences and explore real-life examples of missing person cases that changed families, communities and the world. Shelby Oaks releases in cinemas nationwide on 24 October 2025. Do not miss it! Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn