In 1980s South Africa, a well-known resident of a small Northern Cape town, launched a scheme many believed would be their ticket to the soft life. But it wouldn’t be long before people outside of the scheme started to ask questions. When they did, they were shut down, even threatened by those within the scheme’s quarters. Soon though, the sheer scale of the fraud was laid bare, and it wasn’t just contained to South Africa. The scheme became the biggest postal fraud case in United States history at the time, and for the man at the helm, in many ways, it was just the beginning.

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I was on a podcast! And not just any podcast - one of my personal favourites! Something Shifted with Sean Loots is an award-winning South African storytelling podcast and in this excerpt you'll get a taste of Sean's interview with me. I answer questions like: Am I a psychopath? What happens when you grow up in a seismic testing centre? And, most importantly: How do I sleep at night?

If you've ever wondered about the human being behind the voice telling you some of the most disturbing stories you've ever heard (i.e. me) listen to this and then check out the rest of the interview on any of the links below:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6TdEgpa9wUjZmEQM60puwi?si=KKKcr3OnQvukZnKroA5dAA

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/i-will-not-become-what-i-witnessed-true-crime-author/id1505287056?i=1000754561994

Iono: https://www2.iono.fm/e/1654134 Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Neighbours had called Sibusiso Mpungose an excellent father, citing how much time he seemed to spend with his children. But when his life began to unravel and it seemed he was going to have to answer for his actions, he chose instead to ensure that everyone left behind would suffer the real consequences. On an ordinary Tuesday in September 2019 he carried out a ghastly plan which would end four lives and forever alter many more.

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- The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

This is a Rewind release of an episode originally published in May 2020. The episode has been re-recorded and updated with new and additional information.

Sipho Dube was the embodiment of everything we fear. He was a child rapist and killer and he was almost completely invisible. Between 2002 and 2003, this phantom drifted between the mine dumps of JHB luring in children and then committing the most horrendous crimes. His eventual downfall would come in the form of a desperate father who just wanted justice for his little girl (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Over a period of four months Gugulethu, Nyanga and Delft in the Western Cape, were terrorised by a violent and coldblooded gang. Among the victims was an entire family slain in their beds as they slept. When a seasoned investigator was put on the case, he started to make progress almost immediately, and soon realised that rather than a highly organised group of criminals, these crimes were being committed by two specific individuals with the occasional addition of random cohorts. Of those two, one would become the youngest offender to receive the longest sentence ever handed down in the Western Cape.

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- Disclaimer voiceover: Karabo Peter

- Production of intro and outro music: Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

25-year-old Sasha Lee Shah was building an incredible life for herself. She excelled academically, worked her way into a good job and was securing financial stability. The future was bright. But, by 2021, one part of Sasha Lee’s life was less steady. Her long-term relationship was crumbling under the weight of devastating revelations and Sasha Lee called it quits. Her ex, though, was not ready to let go, and his actions, as well as a failure of the system, destroyed countless lives, leaving a grieving mother fighting for justice.

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- Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa

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- Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide

- The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter

- The production of the intro and outro music was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

This is a TCSA Rewind episode - designed to bring more attention to some of the back catalogue of episodes and provide updates in cases I've covered in the past. This episode was first released in February 2020. Listen through to the end for an update including additional information I've received since the initial episode was published.

Unlike most other rewind episodes, this one has been completely re-recorded in order to fully comply with regulations passed in 2022 around the anonymization of minor victims.

In 2001, South Africa was introduced to Cezanne Visser's blonde bombshell, persona, Advocate Barbie. Her overt sexuality, was curated by her lover, Dirk Prinsloo. While their escapades shocked everyone, it would soon be revealed that the couple were up to something far more sinister behind the scenes

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- Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa

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- Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide

The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter.

The production of the intro and outro music was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios and produced solely for the use of True Crime South Africa Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

Occasionally, a group of criminals commits a series of crimes so infamous that the story becomes part of South African crime folklore. When this happens, without fail, the story becomes distorted and sometimes, the reality of the brutality gets lost in the fray. This is the true story of a group of criminals who terrorised South Africa in 1913 and 1914 and the hidden legacy they left behind.

Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter.

Production of intro and outro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios

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Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa

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As South Africans, it's not uncommon for us to hear an accused person claim that the devil made them do it. In her new book, accomplished academic and all-round cool human, Dr Nicky Falkof explores this segment of crime in our country, its origins and all the ways it influences justice. In this episode we discuss the book, some of its case studies and our experiences with occult crime allegations and the consequences for real victims.

If this conversation has intrigued you or you have more questions for Nicky there'll be two opportunities in May this year where you can chat with both of us. On the 15th of May at The Franschhoek Literary Festival I will join Nicky Falkof, Sara-Jayne Makwala King, and David Cornwell - author of Hell of a Country - for our session called Ordinary Monsters. You can book tickets for that on the Franschoek Literary Festival’s website. On the 23rd of May, I will join Nicky, Julian Jansen - author of the Murder of Deveney Nel - and Tara Penny of Hot FM at the Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg. Tickets for that will be available soon on Kingsmead’s website. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

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- Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa

Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa

- Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

The disclaimer voiceover was done by Karabo Peter.

The intro and outro production was done by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn

28 year old Donovan de Jongh was a vulnerable man living with intellectual disabilities in the Western Cape when he was lured into a vehicle with three men with the promise of some take away food for dinner. What followed was an incredibly horrendous crime which shocked even communities who lived among gang violence on a daily basis. It would also make legal history in South Africa. (24-hr trauma helpline 082-821-3447) (Support the show on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/truecrimesa) (Support the show on PayPal https://www.paypal.me/truecrimesa) (Get TCSA and General True Crime Merch on https://sacriminologist.co.za/shop/ 10% off with code TCSA sitewide)

Disclaimer voiceover by Karabo Peter and production of intro music by Botshelo Moekeletsi at the VOW 88.1 studios Instagram · Pinterest · Facebook · YouTube · Twitter · LinkedIn