Top South African true-crime documentaries to binge-watch

SOUTH African true-crime storytelling has exploded in recent years, unpacking everything from serial killers to billion-rand financial scandals.

- OLUTHANDO KETEY!

Viewers are drawn into understanding the “why” behind the crimes. Through police investigations, court footage, interviews with victims’ families, and expert analysis, these true-crime documentaries slowly piece together puzzles that were once unsolved or misunderstood.

1. Catch Me a Killer (2024)

Charlotte Hope stars in Catch Me a Killer as Micki Pistorius, South Africa’s first-ever serial-killer profiler.

Adapted from Pistorius’ memoir, each episode looks at another of her cases, from the Station Strangler to the Cleveland Killer to Stewart “Boetie Boer” Wilken.

Based on the real-life work of forensic psychologist Pistorius, this gripping series follows her as she tracks down some of the country’s most dangerous offenders.

Where to watch: DStv Stream/ M-Net

2. The People vs VBS (2026)

The People vs. VBS is a true-crime documentary series from multi-award-winners IdeaCandy about a nearly two billion rand bank heist ~ allegedly orchestrated by the bank’s own executives.