
Rosemary’s Hitlist: “the most gripping crime story since Devilsdorp”
Rosemary’s Hitlist, the true-crime documentary series about cop-turned-serial-killer Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu, is now streaming on Showmax. All four episodes are ready to stream.
Early reviews are glowing. Cape Talk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King calls the Showmax Original “edge-of-your-seat” and “jaw-dropping”, adding, “Rosemary’s Hitlist is easily the most gripping crime story since Devilsdorp …”
Ndlovu was sentenced in 2021 to six concurrent life terms for the murders of six members of her family, including her sister and the father of her only living child at the time. They were murdered for killsurance: funeral cover payouts worth over R1.4 million to Ndlovu.
Ndlovu was also sentenced to an additional 30 years: 10 years each for fraud, incitement to commit murder, and the attempted murder of her mother, Maria Mushwana, her sister Joyce, and Joyce’s five children.
Rosemary’s Hitlist is produced by IdeaCandy, the company behind the SAFTA-winning true-crime sensation Devilsdorp, and directed by Valen’tino Mathibela (the first season of The Real Housewives of Durban, Lebo M - Coming Home), with SAFTA winner Richard Gregory (Steinheist) as a consulting director.
We caught up with Mathibela to find out more.
Why were you drawn to the case?
Because it’s unbelievable. It’s a cop! Killing her family!
I wanted to find out why a mother, a daughter and a sister would become a perpetrator while in a position of power to do the opposite and protect her family instead. Money was not enough of a reason.
Murder alone is already chilling, but this was the destruction of a family by one of their own.
And by a cop. Police are seen as protectors, a role similarly expected from mothers or women as nurturers. A cop is a symbol of protection, of safety, of hope. For those that may be suffering or stranded, if you see a police van, you think, "Maybe I'll get help here".
How difficult was it to convince the victims to share their stories?
Very hard! These are people’s lives. They have already had their trust betrayed by a loved one. How can they trust a stranger?
So we had to find a way to make them trust us by being one of them, by caring for them before we put them on camera.
Language is key. People want to be heard and heard completely. You don’t want a language barrier to rob you of that experience.
Was anyone scared to speak out?
Yes, even though she was behind bars, people were still afraid. When she was sentenced, she made a threat to one of the witnesses to say, "I will spend this Christmas in jail but, next year, I will be out. I will be back and you will see." So people were still afraid, and we had some witnesses who changed their minds daily while we chased a deadline. That is why, with some of the witnesses, we had to hide their identities when we filmed them.
At one stage, even I started looking over my shoulder on my way everywhere …
How big a shift was it for you to move from reality TV into true crime?
The shift was massive. The experience was emotionally daunting as all the victims got to relive moments of permanent trauma and we absorbed it all as their form of outlet. These victims come from very poor backgrounds; they don’t have money for psychology. So they had not had an outlet and some of them still tell you, "I can’t sleep at night." And the poverty left behind by the breadwinners is heart-wrenching. But while the story was scary, compassion for the victims made me want to see if we could find answers for them and society at large.
What was the biggest surprise for you in filming this documentary?
Meeting Rosemary was the biggest surprise. You know, she is charming; she is warm. She is imposing when she walks in; everyone's attention goes to her and then she smiles ...
I was so intrigued by the psyche of this woman, who was able to blindside so many people.
I was also surprised by her ability to distance herself from the responsibility of the crimes and her mastery of alibi.
What did the documentary uncover that wasn’t in the original news coverage?
Without giving the story away, some of the intrigue came from learning how long Rosemary’s MO has been at work and how far she was planning to go with it.
If you were going to make a true-crime drama, rather than a documentary, about this case, who would you cast as Rosemary? Why?
Definitely the exceptional Vatiswa Ndara. She is relatable, like Rosemary, and they share striking features that are similar for believability. Her mastery of Xitsonga would be essential - she can learn it.
What are you proud about in the final product?
The authenticity of a uniquely South African story that allowed subjects to express themselves in their own language, which was previously marginalised.
And I was proud that we left the victims feeling seen and heard, even though not everything they expressed will make the cut. They expressed relief to be listened to thoroughly, to have the ability to “bhodla” [have an outlet after carrying their pain for so long/release/offload]. There is hope for healing to begin.
What did the story make you reflect on personally?
I learned how to safeguard myself and loved ones from predators of the new phenomenon of killsurance, which is fast reducing the value of human life in exchange for quick money for those probably trusted the most in families. Motives should be questioned.
More like this

MobLand S1
Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.
Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax
Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime.

IdeaCandy docuseries Unspoken War looks to start a national conversation
Unspoken War lands on Showmax in full on 12 November 2025, and on M-Net weekly on Wednesdays from 12 November. Produced by iEmmy nominees IdeaCandy.

Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection
Dexter’s son Harrison “killed” him in the finale of Dexter: New Blood. But he’s back from the dead and on a mission: tie up loose ends.

Young, Gifted & Queer (2025)
This bold exploration of the lives of Black queer artists shaping Mzansi's cultural landscape is told through intimate and personal reflections.

Dexter: Resurrection S1
The city that never sleeps has a new guest. Set a few weeks after Dexter: New Blood, Dexter Morgan chases a missing Harrison to New York, where Captain Angel Batista is hot on their trail from Miami.
Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax
Watch the explosive trailer for Slay Queens, a Showmax Original docuseries about women chasing the soft life. Streaming from 31 October, new episodes every Friday.

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television
Take a journey through TV history, exploring Black representation, from early on-screen appearances to modern creators, revolutionising the industry.
Crime comes closer to home in Devilsdorp
Steinheist examines the biggest corporate scandal in SA history.
More Showmax Originals

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together unforgettable Housewives from across the continent. Lands 28 November on Showmax.

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together Housewives from across the continent, landing on Showmax on 28 November 2025.

IdeaCandy docuseries Unspoken War looks to start a national conversation
Unspoken War lands on Showmax in full on 12 November 2025, and on M-Net weekly on Wednesdays from 12 November. Produced by iEmmy nominees IdeaCandy.

Unspoken War
Six-part docuseries Unspoken War, produced by IdeaCandy, lands on Showmax and M-Net on Wednesday, 12 November 2025.
Latest Stories

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

Married at First Sight's Portia Baloyi on the reunion and her ex
Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

Relebogile Mabotja to host the two-hour Married at First Sight reunion special

South Africa in third place at International Emmys, with four MultiChoice nominations

What to watch on Showmax in October 2025

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Married at First Sight: Themba on his "stunning" wife Nelisa

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival

Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins