Murder and Mayhem: South African True Crime

Welcome to Episode 53 of the official Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime podcast.

Welcome back to Murder and Mayhem hosted by Bella Monsoon. Here's a little look into today's episode:

In 2010, Leano Vergotine was convicted of a heinous crime. He served roughly twelve years of a fifteen-year sentence. He was released on parole. And within six months of walking free, he began targeting more victims once again.

In June 2026, Acting Judge Amanda van Leeve looked at Leano Vergotine and said: "You are a modern-day monster."

This episode isn't only about the heinous crimes he committed but It's about the gap - the six months he was free, the system that released him, the court's own finding that he was never adequately monitored, and the teenager whose courage is the only reason those other two children were ever found.

I'm Bella Monsoon, a registered mental health professional and South Africa's first trauma-informed true crime creator.

Content warning: this episode covers child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation material. It is trauma-informed, victim-centred, and does not include gratuitous detail. Viewer discretion is advised.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Welcome to Episode 53 of the official Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime podcast.

About this episode:

The headlines have been everywhere, but what exactly is the Madlanga Commission, why was it established and why has it captured the attention of South Africans?

In this episode, I unpack the events that led to the commission, explain who the key players are, and explore the allegations, testimony, and evidence presented during the hearings so far. I also separate confirmed facts from allegations to help you better understand what has happened, what is currently being investigated, and why it matters.

If you've been struggling to keep up with the news or you're hearing about the commission for the first time, this episode will give you the context you need to understand one of South Africa's most significant public inquiries.

Please note that this episode is based on publicly available information, evidence presented before the commission, and reputable media reporting. Unless otherwise stated, allegations discussed remain allegations and should not be interpreted as findings of guilt.

In this episode, we cover:

If you found this episode helpful, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with someone who wants to better understand the Madlanga Commission.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Welcome to Episode 52 of the official Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime podcast.

About this episode:

She told every mother who asked: "With over 2,000 babies delivered ... not one baby has ever been hurt." She was lying.

And she had been lying for a very long time.

This is the full story of Yolande Maritz Fouchee - owner of You and Me Midwife-led Maternity Care in Pretoria East, and the subject of a six-year investigation by Carte Blanche that exposed one of the most sustained patterns of medical harm ever documented in South African private midwifery.

The harm didn't begin in 2019 though. And this is the full story of what is now known about the disturbing and extensive horrific actions of Yolandi Fouchee.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Welcome to Episode 51 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About this episode:

In May 2026, a retired couple entered the Kruger National Park to celebrate a birthday. They followed every rule. They knew the park well. They never came home. This is the first murder of visitors in Kruger's 100-year history and the story behind it goes far deeper than the headlines.

This is a story of true horror.

This is the story of the disturbing and tragic murders of Ernst and Dina Marais.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Welcome to Episode 50 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About this episode:

There are some cases that don’t just shock you. They stay with you. Not because of noise or outrage, but because they force you to confront something deeply uncomfortable about responsibility, protection, and the fragility of life.

Today’s case is one of those.

It involves a newborn baby who was only eight days old, a moment in time where life should be at its most protected, most fragile, and most fiercely guarded. Instead, that window became the setting for something so disturbing that even seasoned investigators would struggle to articulate.

This is a story of societal decay and horror.

This is the story of the disturbing and tragic murder of Caithlyn Ferreira.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favour

Welcome to Episode 49 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About this episode:

This episode is about the Deveney Nel case, the story about a 16-year-old girl who went to school one morning and never came home.

What followed would shatter a small community and raise deeply uncomfortable questions about safety, warning signs, accountability, and the systems we rely on to protect young people.

This documentary looks beyond the headlines, exploring how violence escalates, how behaviour is minimised, and what happens when early warning signs are ignored.

This is Deveney Nel's story.

For images, sources, and real footage related to this case, please visit my YouTube channel, Bella Monsoon, where this story has been covered in full video format.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book:

Mental Health Resources:

If any part of this episode feels triggering, please know that support is available and reaching out is a strength.

A full list of international mental health resources can be found at BellaMonsoon.com. If you are in South Africa, you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the show:

Subscribe and follow Murder & Mayhem on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast platform.

Welcome to the Episode 48 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About the episode:

Imagine being so desperate to provide for your family and then being offered the opportunity you’ve been waiting for from someone who you know; someone who you should be able to trust. 

Imagine embarking on a journey to start this chapter only to have those moments be your last and to never see the ones you love again. In a small farming community- this was the reality for those who found themselves victims to a man who violated their trust. A man who stole so much more than their lives. A man who never showed one inkling of remorse for the heinous crimes he committed. 

This is the case of the serial offender- Johan Jacobus Williams.

For images, sources and real footage of the individuals and the case mentioned, please visit my Youtube Channel- Bella Monsoon where this case has been covered in video format HERE.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book: https://shop.bellamonsoon.com/collections/books

Mental Health Resources:

If you are feeling triggered by any of the content within this podcast please reach out and speak to someone. A full list of worldwide mental health channels is available on my website bellamonsoon.com but if you are in South Africa- you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the Show on Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/join/BellaMonsoon

Support the Show on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bellamonsoon

Subscribe and follow Murder and Mayhem on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or your favourite podcast listening platforms

Welcome to the Episode 47 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About the episode:

Imagine your life is just beginning, you have big plans for the future and a spirit yearning for adventure. Only to have it all stolen in the blink of an eye.

In the coastal city of Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal, a grim tale of tragedy unfolded in January of 2018. A 20 year old woman with her whole life ahead of her was kidnapped, her body later discovered burnt almost beyond recognition. The paths of many would intersect as the chilling events that followed gripped the nation- uncovering a sinister never ending interconnected web of secrets and lies.

As private investigators unravelled the mystery of the events leading uptown her death, a story of obsession, deception and a history and pattern of disturbing behaviour would come to light. Although many truths would be uncovered, some questions would still remain up in the air, even to this day.

This is a journey into the light that was this girl and the darkness that stole her from this world. This is the story of an enduring and exhausting battle for truth and justice. This is the story of a girl who loved deeply, lived authentically and embraced life in every way of form. 

This is Siam Lee’s story.

For images, sources and real footage of the individuals and the case mentioned, please visit my Youtube Channel- Bella Monsoon where this case has been covered in video format HERE.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book: https://shop.bellamonsoon.com/collections/books

Mental Health Resources:

If you are feeling triggered by any of the content within this podcast please reach out and speak to someone. A full list of worldwide mental health channels is available on my website bellamonsoon.com but if you are in South Africa- you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the Show on Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/join/BellaMonsoon

Support the Show on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bellamonsoon

Subscribe and follow Murder and Mayhem on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or your favourite podcast listening platforms

Welcome to the Episode 46 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About the episode:

Klawer- a quiet town along South Africa’s West Coast, where life moves at a slow, familiar pace. A town known for its rooibos, its grapes and its honey. But in February 2022, a horrifying crime shattered that silence. A 13-year-old boy vanished, last seen running for his life.

What happened next sent shockwaves through the nation, exposing the darkest depths of human cruelty. As the truth unfolded, it raised unsettling questions about justice, community, and the hidden dangers that can lurk behind even the most unassuming facades.

This is the story of Klawer’s most chilling crime...a case that would leave a permanent scar on South Africa.

This is Jerobejin Van Wyk’s Story.

For images, sources and real footage of the individuals and the case mentioned, please visit my Youtube Channel- Bella Monsoon where this case has been covered in video format HERE.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book: https://shop.bellamonsoon.com/collections/books

Mental Health Resources:

If you are feeling triggered by any of the content within this podcast please reach out and speak to someone. A full list of worldwide mental health channels is available on my website bellamonsoon.com but if you are in South Africa- you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the Show on Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/join/BellaMonsoon

Support the Show on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bellamonsoon

Subscribe and follow Murder and Mayhem on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or your favourite podcast listening platforms

Welcome to the Episode 45 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime.

About the episode:

Just a few days before she would turn 21, a young girl with everything ahead of her would have her life stolen when what should have been a simple errand turned into a nightmare. 

For months prior to her demise, little did she know that she was being watched, being obsessed over- her existence the very object of another’s desires.

Although it seemed like the case was straightforward, it would take almost a decade for any form of justice to be received.

A perpetrator who made Interpol's most wanted list; an international 9 year long manhunt; and a grieving family who longed for some form of closure.

This is the unbelievable story of a family’s fight for justice. This is Chantelle Barnard’s story.

For images, sources and real footage of the individuals and the case mentioned, please visit my Youtube Channel- Bella Monsoon where this case has been covered in video format HERE.

SHOP the South African Truly Criminal Colouring Book: https://shop.bellamonsoon.com/collections/books

Mental Health Resources:

If you are feeling triggered by any of the content within this podcast please reach out and speak to someone. A full list of worldwide mental health channels is available on my website bellamonsoon.com but if you are in South Africa- you can contact SADAG on 0800 12 13 14.

Support the Show on Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/join/BellaMonsoon

Support the Show on Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/bellamonsoon

Subscribe and follow Murder and Mayhem on Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify or your favourite podcast listening platforms