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
344 Episodes
240 – 260

Episode 50 - The Disappearance of Natasha Viljoen

In 2010, five days after giving birth, Natasha Viljoen vanished. 11 years later, her sister and daughter are still on a journey to understand where Natasha has gone and perhaps also, who she really was. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal…
7 Mar 2021 1 hr 06 min

Ewa Nosal: The Case That Started It All (Minisode)

In 1994, 8-year-old Ewa Nosal was murdered. 27 years later her death continues to make an impact in the most unlikely of ways (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 on Patreon · Support the Show on PayPal
26 Feb 2021 26 min

Episode 49 - The Stander Gang

In the 1980s a bank-robbing policeman shocked and enthralled the South African public with his criminal antics. Although the legend of Andre Stander and his gang lives on to this day, there are darker secrets around this man and his crimes that have been cast aside in favour of the…
19 Feb 2021 45 min

Spotlight Minisode 25

In today's minisode, we discuss a scourge of incidents seen recently in which the elderly are targeted for robbery and murder. (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 on PayPal · Support the Show on Patreon
11 Feb 2021 15 min

Episode 48 - The Murder of Cisca Du Toit

On the 19th of September 1994, the quiet neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant in PE was rocked by the savage murder of a 13-year-old girl. The investigation into the murder of Cisca du Toit would reveal one of the most shocking cases of family murder South Africa has ever seen (Today's…
5 Feb 2021 47 min

Spotlight Minisode When Mothers Kill

In today's Spotlight minisode we delve into one of the most horrific crimes imaginable - the intentional killing of a child by its mother (Purchase the Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2YoCn91) (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) Purchase the Audiobook · Support the…
28 Jan 2021 26 min

Episode 47 - The Crimes of Stephanus Swart

In 1927, South Africa was introduced to a new type of crime - spree killing - when Stephanus Swart went on a rampage that would scar his community for decades (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 on…
22 Jan 2021 46 min

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
240 – 260