Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Play video

Original Sin: My Son The Killer

Flag zaMade in South Africa

Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.

Original Sin follows Thea Pretorius, the mother of Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who murdered his 25-year-old girlfriend Andrea Venter in front of her neighbours, security guards and CCTV cameras. He then escaped authorities in South Africa and Brazil for years, assuming three different identities and starting families with multiple women. After initially helping him escape, Thea slowly had to come to terms with her son being a killer. As she admits in the trailer, “He’s capable of worse things.”

Original Sin is directed by John Gutierrez, whose credits include Sons of the Sea, which won the Best South African Film at Durban, and editing the Grammy-winning Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down a Dream.

Original Sin: My Son The Killer is now streaming on Showmax.

More addictive Showmax Originals

Fire burning flame Isolated on a black background

The Roast of Helen Zille vs The Mommy Club reunion moments

Here are some of the jaw-dropping quotes and moments from The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille and The Mommy Club S3 reunion, now streaming on Showmax.

/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
The Mommy Club S3 on Showmax

The Mommy Club S1-3

Meet the glamorous ladies of the Mommy Club, the Jozi mothers who let us into their lives. All episodes are streaming including Part 1 of the reunion. Part 2 lands on 24 May.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
The Roast of Helen Zille on Showmax

The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille: Burn unit

Get your ice and aloe gel ready: we’ve scooped just 25 of the best burns from Laugh Africa Presents: The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
The Roast of Helen Zille on Showmax

Laugh Africa Presents: The Showmax Roast of Helen Zille

South African comedy royalty Tumi Morake and Trevor Gumbi take the reins as Roast Masters. With Helen Zille in the hot seat and a cross-section of South African voices – anything can happen.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
The Mommy Club S3 on Showmax

Must-watch trailer for the reunion of The Mommy Club Season 3

Watch the trailer for the reunion of The Mommy Club S3, premiering in two parts on 17 and 24 May on Showmax. 

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
The Roast of Helen Zille on Showmax

Helen Zille on her Showmax Roast and a legacy of laughter

Helen Zille shares her thoughts on her Showmax Roast and her reasons for agreeing to it. Stream from Friday, 16 May on Showmax.

Original
/images/za.svgSouth African
AMVCAs now on Showmax

Missed the 11th AMVCAs? Watch the awards on Showmax

Showmax will stream the full broadcast of the 11th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards from 14 May 2025.

Original
/images/ng.svgMade in Nigeria
Roast of Helen Zille exclusively on Showmax

Glam pics: Inside the star-studded Showmax Roast of Helen Zille

A look at the unforgettable moments from the Showmax Roast of Helen Zille at the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, streaming from 16 May on Showmax.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa

The most shocking crime shows to stream

Grosse Point Garden Society on Showmax

Grosse Point Garden Society S1

Four members of a garden club get entangled in a scandalous murder, and are forced to bury the body in their own flower beds in this crime drama.

Tulsa King S2 on Showmax

Frank Grillo takes on the Tulsa King

Frank Grillo and Sylvester Stallone go head to head as rival mob bosses in Tulsa King Season 2. And we rate 9 more Frank Grillo roles, from Boss Level to Billions.

Anatomy of Lies on Showmax

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.

First
Accused S2 on Showmax

Accused S2

An engrossing anthology courtroom drama based on the acclaimed BBC crime series. Each episode follows a new defendant as they await their verdict, while flashbacks reveal how they ended up in court.

Reyka S1 on Showmax

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.

/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
Plan B on Showmax

Your Plan B Afrikaans crime watch

Arnold Vosloo is here to demonstrate the art to planning the perfect heist – after he spots a cozy little Vermeer – in the series Plan B. And if you’re on a crime watch, we have 10 more Afrikaans series to try. 

/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
Gangs of London S3 on Showmax

Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax

Not everybody can be the Godfather. From The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 10 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime. 

The Cleaning Lady S4 on Showmax

The Cleaning Lady S1-4

Cambodian doctor Thony becomes a cleaning lady for an organised crime syndicate in the US to keep her ill son alive in this fan-favourite series.

First

More eye-opening documentaries

Anatomy of Lies on Showmax

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.

First
Time Bomb: The Incredible Story of Phillip Ndou on Showmax

Eye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream

These unmissable South African shows and movies deliver surprising insights on the country we’re living in today.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
A Very Royal Scandal S1 on Showmax

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!

Tracking Thabo Bester on Showmax

9 South African true-crime series, ranked

From Devilsdorp to Tracking Thabo Bester, these true-crime documentary series explore some of the darkest and most audacious acts – all available to stream on Showmax.

Original
/images/za.svgMade in South Africa
Maryam Henein in Shadowland - Season 1 is on Showmax

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.

Love to Love You Donna Summer is on Showmax

The sound of Donna Summer on Showmax

What’s a summer soundtrack without Donna Summer? Watch HBO documentary Love to Love You, Donna Summer and see the series and movies that keep her music alive today.  

Made With Money With Brian Cox is on Showmax

Two documentaries to stream after HBO’s Succession

Succession had us enthralled. From Made of Money with Brian Cox to The Murdochs: Empire of Influence, here’s what to watch after Succession on Showmax.

Kenyan documentary Softie is on Showmax

7 documentaries about the secret lives of people you’ll probably never meet

Discover 7 documentaries from Kenya, Nigeria and the world at large about amazing people you may never meet.