15 July 2024

School Ties

From true-crime pioneers IdeaCandy (Devilsdorp, Tracking Thabo Bester) and Steinheist director Richard Gregory, School Ties confronts the grooming and sexual abuse of learners in some of South Africa’s most prestigious boys' schools, unravelling the trauma endured by victims and the culture of silence that allows this to happen, as well as the responses of authorities, schools, and society at large.

The four-part series examines the tragic suicide of 16-year-old Thomas Kruger on the grounds of the elite St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown; looks at how a former Parktown Boys’ High School educator normalised violent and sexual behaviour; and delves into Julio Mordoh's suicide a decade after allegedly experiencing abuse by his school sports coach. The final episode investigates a ring of school coaches accused of sex offences and speaks to South African Police Service Colonel Heila Niemand, who led the operation.

School Ties highlights the red flags that could point to abuse and offers insights from child protection specialists and experts on children’s rights, including Childline South Africa CEO Dumisile Nala, Child Protection and Development specialist Luke Lamprecht, clinical psychologist Marita Rademeyer, child protection activist and journalist Robyn Wolfson Vorster, and Deon Wiggett, the author of My Only Story: The Hunt for a Serial Paedophile.

Cape Town Today says, “School Ties serves as an urgent call for action and a beacon of hope for the countless victims who have been silenced for far too long… We can only hope that this series will act as a catalyst for significant change.”

Watch full episodes now

More like this

Documentaries

Tracking Thabo Bester

A documentary about the convicted murderer and rapist who did not die in Cell 35 but was instead seen shopping in Sandton City. Two episodes 15 March, final episodes 22 March on Showmax.

OriginalMade in South Africa

5 reasons to pick up HBO’s Telemarketers

Scam caller alert! Five reasons to find out who’s really cashing in on a job that everyone hates, in the HBO documentary series The Telemarketers.

Telemarketers

Two former telemarketers team up to investigate the dark side of American capitalism, uncovering widespread abuse of customer trust.

The Zulu brothers on The Wife now on Showmax

10 game-changing shows to celebrate Showmax turning 10

Stream these original titles to celebrate Showmax turning 10. A decade later, streaming service has since expanded to 44 African countries.

OriginalMade in South Africa

The Weeknd Live at Sofi Stadium

In front of an adoring sold-out crowd in Los Angeles, The Weeknd brings fans up close with this intimate and epic special concert event.

My Mom Jayne (2025)

Mariska Hargitay assembles a new portrait of her mother, Hollywood legend Jayne Mansfield, showing what an extraordinary and complex woman she was.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story on Showmax

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024)

Christopher Reeve rose to fame as a celebrated actor before a near-fatal riding accident left him paralysed. This award-winning and Emmy-nomintead documentary was produced by South African Robert Ford.

First

Christopher Reeve documentary on Showmax get four Emmy nods

South African producer Robert Ford discusses his Emmy-nominated documentary, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which premieres on Showmax on Friday, 25 July 2025.

First South Africa