Eye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream

Find out more about where South Africa has been and get some insight into where it could be going with this eclectic list of some of the best South African documentaries on Showmax.

The ABC Killer | Showmax Original | Binge from 22 July

In 1995, journalist Tamsen de Beer was working the night shift at The Star newspaper when she got a call from someone claiming to be South Africa’s most prolific serial killer. The kind of serial killer who would go on to be convicted of 38 murders and 40 rapes – all committed in the space of just over a year, in broad daylight, while sober.

Alongside re-enactments filmed in the actual locations where the events took place, The ABC Killer features interviews with Tamsen, South Africa’s first profiler Micki Pistorius, and former detectives Ettiene “Vinyl” Viljoen, Frans van Niekerk, and Paul Nkomo, among others.

Steinheist | Showmax Original

From the creators of Devilsdorp, this three-part doccie series details the rise and fall of billionaire Markus Jooste and the crash of Steinhoff, which knocked R200 billion off the JSE in 2017. Follow the money in this Showmax Original documentary series that investigates the events leading to his suicide in 2024. Watch now »

Tiek Tok Boem | Showmax Original

An explosive and in-depth 90-minute documentary exploring the good, the bad, and the outrageous side of South Africa’s Afrikaans TikTok. Watch now »

Station Strangler | Showmax Original

A gripping documentary that explores the facts behind ‘The Station Strangler’, a serial killer known to have killed 21 young boys and one adult from the late 80s to mid-90s. Watch now »

Brasse Vannie Kaap | Showmax Original

A powerful and emotional documentary about the legendary South African hip-hop group ‘Brasse Vannie Kaap’, who conquered the music scene in the crucial early years of the new South Africa. Watch now »

False Glory | Showmax Original

The three-part true-crime documentary delves into three shocking stories that rocked the sports world, from cheating at the Comrades to rigging South Africa’s 2010 FIFA World Cup warm-up games to an illegal immigration case. Watch now »

Dark Side of Glory | Showmax Original

Two-part true crime documentary on sporting world tragedies. Find out how ex-Blue Bull Joseph Ntshongwana became an axe murderer, and how triumph turned to murder for three female Kenyan athletes. Watch now »

Original Sin: My Son The Killer | Showmax Original

The chilling story of Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, told through his mother and also his victim Andrea Venter. This crime-thriller documentary reveals how he became a killer. Watch now »

Tracking Thabo Bester | Showmax Original

A journalist unmasks an inconvenient truth: Thabo Bester is alive and at large, working with his lover, Nandipha. Their crimes involve stolen bodies and multi-million-rand scams. The investigation reveals disturbing secrets. Watch now »

The Illuminated | Showmax Original

Take a look at the members, beliefs, structures and controversies surrounding non-mainstream religious organisations throughout South Africa. Watch now »

Convict Conman | Showmax Original

This Showmax Original true-crime series follows the investigations into Dawie de Villiers, a supposed model agency boss accused of multiple rapes, and shadowy publisher Michael O’Connor. Warning: contains descriptions of sexual abuse. Watch now »

Boetie Boer: Inside The Mind Of A Monster | Showmax Original

Showmax takes you inside the mind of a monster in the most disturbing Showmax Original true-crime series to date. We go back in time to 1990 as Stewart “Boetie Boer” Wilken starts his killing spree in Gqeberha. Watch now »

Rosemary’s Hitlist | Showmax Original

Cop Rosemary Ndlovu may have sworn to protect, but what she did instead shocked South Africa. This is the story of her crime spree, a true-crime documentary series about cop-turned-serial-killer Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu.

In 2021, Ndlovu was sentenced to six concurrent life terms for a string of murders. What drove this policewoman, sworn to protect, to kill? Watch now »

Stella Murders | Showmax Original

A small farming town in the North West wakes up to the news of the death of two teenage girls in a school hostel. Is it a double suicide or a murder? From the director and producers of Devilsdorp. Watch now »

Devilsdorp | Showmax Original

Hell comes closer to home in Showmax’s first Original true-crime docu-series. A series of brutal murders in the town of Krugersdorp leads cops to a bizarre cult with links to Satanism. If you think you know this story, you don’t. Watch now »

Time Bomb: The Incredible Story of Phillip Ndou

A six-part entertainment docu-series that follows former world boxing champion Phillip Ndou on a journey to reunite with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather in Michigan. Watch now »

Habits of Gen Z

From multi-award-winners IdeaCandy (Tracking Thabo Bester, Devilsdorp), Habits of Gen Z is a captivating documentary series that follows the lives and challenges of being a Gen Z. Watch now »

Great African Mysteries S1

Nominated for Best Cinematography in the Documentary category at this year’s SAFTAs, Great African Mysteries explores some of South Africa’s most fascinating and enduring mysteries. The History Channel has already renewed Great African Mysteries for a second season. Watch now »

Sex and Pleasure | Showmax Original

What do South Africans get up to behind closed doors (and, well, everywhere else too)? The adults-only documentary series Sex and Pleasure, hosted by writer Kim Windvogel and journalist Romantha Botha, explores this hot topic. Watch now »

Ukuwela: The Crossing

An inspiring story following Sibusiso Sizatu’s journey from a carefree herd boy to leading his crew on a gruelling Cape to Rio yacht race – the longest continent-to-continent race in the southern hemisphere. Watch now »

Yes to the Impossible: The Nolo Letele Story

The inspiring story of the MultiChoice ex-chairman, Nolo Letele, who, against the odds, blazed the trail in bringing the company’s success story to life. Watch now »

Chasing the Sun S2

Chasing the Sun 2 is a documentary series that rekindles memories of the 2023 Rugby World Cup when all of South Africa was ‘Stronger Together’ towards a historic fourth Webb Ellis trophy. Watch now »

Imibuzo

Imibuzo is a Showmax Original which revisit the murders of Flabba from Skwatta Kamp; Tshegofatso Pule, Phumeza Pepeta, Karabo Mokoena and Tshepang Pitse; LGBTQIA+ musician and activist Lindokuhle Cele; and the children of Sibusiso Mpungose, as well as the Enyobeni Tavern massacre. Other episodes focus on televangelist Tim Omotoso, who is currently in jail awaiting trial on 97 charges of rape, racketeering and human trafficking, and Sibongile Mali, who went on a spending spree after R14m was erroneously deposited into her account. Watch now »

Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener

This one-off special will explore three dramatic cases that left South Africa stunned:  the infamous crimes of poisoner Daisy de Melker, the so-called Sea Cottage incident and the Krugersdorp bank robbery. Watch now »

School Ties

This is a hard-hitting and pertinent four-part docuseries that explores grooming and sexual abuse by sports coaches at South Africa’s elite boys’ schools. Watch now »

Girl, Taken

The gripping true story of two Cape Town parents whose daughter was stolen from the hospital at birth. She’s miraculously found 17 years later, but their reunion is not the fairytale ending they hoped for. Watch now »

Sex in Afrikaans | Showmax Original

Four Afrikaans couples and two singles have shameless discussions about their sex lives for the first time – and, in the process, discover that there is so much more fun to be had! Presented by psychologist Bradley R Daniels. Watch now »

Zero to Zero

A moving South African film about Covid-19. Filmed over a year, this unequalled footage from ICU and beyond tells a story of despair, hope and the strength of the human spirit. Watch now »

Outopsie

Senior forensic pathologist, Dr Hestelle van Staden, reveals what really happens behind the theatre door. She discusses captivating cases where forensic pathology played a central role.