"The People vs. VBS" is a true-crime documentary series from multi-award-winning IdeaCandy.
Image: Supplied
South African true-crime storytelling has exploded in recent years, unpacking everything from serial killers to billion-rand financial scandals.
Viewers are drawn into understanding the “why” behind the crimes. Through police investigations, court footage, interviews with victims’ families, and expert analysis, these true-crime documentaries slowly piece together puzzles that were once unsolved or misunderstood.
1. "Catch Me a Killer" (2024)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
Charlotte Hope stars in "Catch Me a Killer" as Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first-ever serial-killer profiler.
Adapted from Pistorius’ memoir, each episode looks at another of her cases, from the Station Strangler to the Cleveland Killer to Stewart “Boetie Boer” Wilken.
Based on the real-life work of forensic psychologist Pistorius, this gripping series follows her as she tracks down some of the country’s most dangerous offenders.
2. "The People vs VBS" (2026)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
"The People vs. VBS" is a true-crime documentary series from multi-award-winners IdeaCandy about a nearly two billion rand bank heist – allegedly orchestrated by the bank’s own executives.
This explosive documentary unpacks the collapse of VBS Mutual Bank, one of South Africa’s biggest alleged financial scandals. It details how billions were reportedly looted, leaving thousands of depositors devastated.
3. "Steinheist" (2022)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
"Steinheist" unpacks the biggest corporate scam in South African history and how the net tightened around former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste in the build-up to his suicide on March 21, 2024.
A gripping exposé of the Steinhoff scandal and the dramatic downfall of former Jooste. The series tracks how a global retail giant allegedly hid massive losses for years.
4. "Devilsdorp" (2021)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
Showmax’s first true-crime documentary series dissected the bizarre story behind the Krugersdorp Killings. It set a four-day hours-watched record, won Best TV Documentary at the SAFTAs, and sold internationally.
Set in Krugersdorp, this unsettling docuseries explores a cult-linked killing spree that shocked South Africa and raised questions about faith, manipulation, and murder.
5. "Boetie Boer: Inside the Mind of a Monster" (2023)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
Boetie Boer takes the viewer back in time to 1990: as the African National Congress is unbanned and Nelson Mandela is released after 27 years in prison, Stewart ‘Boetie Boer’ Wilken starts his killing spree in Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha
A disturbing psychological profile of serial killer Wilken, also known as “Boetie Boer,” explores his crimes and disturbing mindset.
6. "School Ties" (2023)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
A ground-breaking and harrowing four-part documentary series about the grooming and sexual abuse of learners at some of South Africa’s most prestigious boys’ schools.
A deeply emotional investigation into abuse allegations at a prestigious boys’ school, raising questions about silence, power, and accountability.
7. "The Station Strangler" (2020)
Where to watch: DStv Stream / M-Net
A true-crime feature documentary from IdeaCandy, "The Station Strangler" investigates the serial killer who is believed to have killed 21 young boys and one adult from the late 80s to the mid-90s on the Cape Flats.
Revisiting one of Cape Town’s most infamous cases, this documentary examines the crimes of Norman Afzal Simons and the ongoing debate around justice.
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