Boetie Boer: Inside The Mind Of A Monster
Made in South Africa
This South African true-crime documentary about serial killer Stewart Wilken features descriptions of his crimes in his own words, and is not suitable for sensitive viewers, or anyone under the age of 18.
The five-part Showmax Original documentary Boetie Boer takes us back in time to 1990 in South Africa: 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. As journalist Brett Adkins says in the trailer, “When he was arrested, it sounded like something out of a movie. Suddenly we had a serial killer.”
“Wilken was a highly unusual serial killer,” says director Jasyn Howes, who won Best SA Short Documentary at Jozi Film Festival for Dula. “Unlike most serial killers, he had more than one type of victim: predominantly female sex workers and young boys, usually street children, across multiple races. He also claimed to engage in necrophilia and cannibalism with his victims.”
Boetie Boer premieres exclusively on Showmax on 18 October 2023, with new episodes on Wednesdays. “Even if you are over 18 and a fan of true-crime documentaries, we strongly advise viewer discretion,” says Allan Sperling, executive head of content at Showmax. “This is not for sensitive viewers, especially hearing the description of the crimes in the killer’s own words.”
All episodes are now streaming.
More South African true crime

Steinheist
Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste got caught pulling the scam of the century. Follow the money in this Showmax Original documentary series that investigates the events leading to his suicide in 2024.

Rosemary’s Hitlist
Cop Rosemary Ndlovu may have sworn to protect, but what she did instead shocked South Africa. This is the story of her crime spree.

Stella Murders (2023)
A small farming town in the North West wakes up to the tragic news of the deaths of two teenage girls in a school hostel. Is it a double suicide or a murder?

Devilsdorp
Hell comes closer to home in Devilsdorp, the Showmax Original true-crime documentary series that uncovers disturbing new facts about the brutal Krugersdorp Killings.
Immerse yourself in local stories

Former captain Amanda Dlamini on Banyana’s challenges
Amanda Dlamini shares insights on Banyana Banyana’s WAFCON journey as they face Tanzania on Friday, 11 July in the Showmax Premier League.

Trailer: Thuso Mbedu in HBO’s Task, coming to Showmax in 2025
See the first-look trailer of Thuso Mbedu in HBO’s Task, coming to Showmax in September. Plus, 5 more international must-watch shows dropping on Showmax in 2025.

10 international movies and series shot in South Africa
From Boy Kills World, to Milli Vanilli exposé movie Girl You Know It’s True, to Yellowstone series 1923, we sent our location scouts to figure out where 10 international productions filmed some familiar scenes.

Where to watch The Real Housewives franchise online
Showmax is the home of The Real Housewives, giving an inside look at the lives of these glam women from Durban, Abuja, Lagos, Joburg, Nairobi and more. Plus, go on vacation with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip!

Reyka’s Speelman and five killers who love playing games
Criminal profiler Reyka is back playing strategy games with her childhood captor Angus Speelman in Reyka Season 2. We look back on his slimiest moments from Season 1, and check out five movie killers who love toying with their prey.

The River S1-6
Fan-fave telenovela The River is full of twists and turns, and plenty of characters you love to hate, or love to root for – like Cobra. Stream the full boxset on Showmax.

International Women’s Month: Powerful storytelling on Showmax
In celebration of International Women’s Month, here are must-see shows with strong women, available to stream on Showmax.

Showmax and Joburg Film Festival support emerging filmmakers
7 films from the first-time director slate will have their world premieres at this year’s Joburg Film Festival, from 11-16 March 2025, before streaming on Showmax from April.
Showmax is the home of HBO in Africa

Duster S1
Working on taking down a crime syndicate, the first Black female FBI agent recruits a gutsy getaway driver in this gritty series set in 1972.

Embrace the cringe in The Rehearsal Season 2
Hateable or relatable? We’re here to look at our 10 favourite characters with awkward, offputting energy – starting with The Rehearsal’s Nathan Fielder.

The Rehearsal S1-2
In this bizarre HBO docuseries people get a chance to rehearse for their own lives in a world where nothing ever works out as expected.

Tokyo Vice S1-2
In this powerful HBO crime thriller based on true events, a Western journalist working in Tokyo takes on one of the city’s most powerful crime bosses.

How Do You Measure A Year? (2022)
In this deeply personal Oscar-nominated documentary short, longtime HBO collaborator Jay Rosenblatt interviews his daughter on her birthday for 17 years.

Chimp Crazy S1
Tiger King filmmaker Eric Goode delivers another view into exotic animal owners – this time, focusing on the lengths chimpanzee “owners” go to keep their ape babies.

All That Breathes (2022)
Two Muslim brothers devote their lives to protecting black kites, a majestic bird of prey falling from New Delhi’s skies at alarming rates.

Hacks S1-4
Emmy winner Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder make an odd partnership in the acclaimed HBO dramedy Hacks, about a legendary Vegas comedian and her new writer.
More of the best documentaries to stream

Wild Wild Space and 10 more titles to join your space race
We have liftoff! As new HBO documentary Wild Wild Space takes us into low orbit, mission control has 10 more titles ready for space junkies, from Apollo 13 to Interstellar.

Anatomy of Lies: Women who con
Grey’s Anatomy’s most shocking medical case took place behind the scenes. Find out how co-executive producer and writer Elisabeth Finch faked cancer and personal tragedy, and meet five more of the world’s most questionable con women.

A Very Royal Scandal: 5 downfall documentaries and drama series
What do Prince Andrew, King Juan Carlos I, Sean Combs, Alex Jones, and Markus Jooste have in common? In-depth documentaries more shocking than an Oscar-winning movie!

Crazy-conspiracy documentary Shadowland and 8 more cult classics
Explore the secret world of how fringe movements manipulate facts to recruit their followers in series like Shadowland Season 1 on Showmax.