Crime documentaries
10 South African true-crime series, ranked
From The ABC Killer to Tracking Thabo Bester, these true-crime documentary series explore some of South Africa’s darkest crime stories – all available to stream on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Director Jasyn Howes on true-crime documentary The ABC Killer
The director of Showmax Original doccie The ABC Killer, Jasyn Howes, talks about the twisty three-part series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Stream it now on Showmax.
South African
The ABC Killer S1
Delve into the story of South African serial killer Moses Sithole, whose reign of terror on young Black women in Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland earned him the nickname the ABC Killer.
Made in South AfricaMust-watch trailer: The ABC Killer, about serial killer Moses Sithole
Watch the chilling trailer for the Showmax twisty true-crime documentary The ABC Killer, about serial killer Moses Sithole. Premiering 22 July on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
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.
Onthul S1-2
Onthul is a series of documentaries that investigate the current affairs that are gripping the Afrikaans viewers.
Made in South Africa
Must-watch trailer: Showmax to release new Steinheist episodes
Watch the explosive trailer for the second instalment of Steinheist, unpacking the biggest corporate scam in South African history.
Made in South Africa
Huisgenoot Ware Lewensdramas: Vlees en Bloed S2
A gripping new true-crime series that focusses on the most shocking cases of familicide in South Africa.
Huisgenoot Ware Lewensdramas S1-10
Revisit some of the biggest stories in South Africa, as seen through the eyes of the veteran journalists of Huisgenoot.
Made in South Africa
The Station Strangler (2023)
A gripping documentary that explores the facts behind the serial killer known as The Station Strangler, who targeted young boys on the Cape Flats in the 80s and 90s.
Made in South AfricaDirector Nadine Cloete on Showmax’s The Station Strangler
Watch the trailer for The Station Strangler, the latest true-crime feature doccie from IdeaCandy for Showmax. Arrives 6 November.
Made in South Africa
The Truth vs Alex Jones
This doccie looks at how families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting took conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to court for spreading lies about the event being a hoax.
Tell Them You Love Me (2023)
A true-crime documentary about the university professor who had a controversial affair with a non-verbal man with cerebral palsy.
False Glory: Showmax series investigates shocking sports stories
First look at the explosive trailer for False Glory, a true-crime documentary series that delves into three shocking stories that rocked the sports world. Premiering 19 August on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Dark Side of Glory
Two-part documentary Dark Side of Glory tells the stories behind shocking cases of murder and unexplained deaths in the world of sport. All the episodes are streaming.
Made in South AfricaMust watch trailer: true-crime doccie Dark Side of Glory
Watch the explosive first trailers for Dark Side of Glory, a true crime documentary about the shocking cases of murder in the world of sport. Premieres 31 July on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
9 most shocking moments in The Illuminated
Are you strong enough to binge Showmax Original documentary series The Illuminated? Here’s what you’ll need to prepare yourself.
Made in South Africa
When We Were Bullies (2022)
A mind-boggling coincidence leads the filmmaker to track down his fifth-grade class and fifth-grade teacher to examine their memory of and complicity in a bullying incident 50 years ago.
Former SAPS profiler on the murder that “stands out the most”
Former SAPS head profiler Dr Gérard Labuschagne discusses the true-crime documentary Original Sin: My Son The Killer, noting it as the most troubling case in his career.
Made in South AfricaOriginal Sin: My Son The Killer (2024)
The chilling story of Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, told by his mother, who helped him flee South Africa after he murdered his girlfriend, Andrea Venter.
Made in South Africa
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.
Made in South AfricaMust-watch trailer for Original Sin: My Son The Killer
See the trailer for the Showmax Original true-crime documentary Original Sin: My Son The Killer, about the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren. Lands 22 March.
Made in South Africa
The Illuminated
A behind-the-scenes look at non-mainstream religious organisations throughout South Africa, including their members, beliefs, structures and controversies surrounding them.
Made in South Africa
Must-watch trailer: Tracking Thabo Bester
Streaming on 15 and 22 March 2024, Showmax Original documentary series Tracking Thabo Bester is the documentary South Africa has been waiting for.
Made in South Africa