Welcome to the Episode 19 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: A day that was supposed to be full of joy and celebrations quickly turned deadly as hundreds of children were exposed to a chemical weapon. In the chaos that ensued- 13 lives were lost. And the reason for the attack in the first place? Money. A rival club suffering financially decided that drastic measures would need to be taken in order to increase the feet in their venue. But things went...

Welcome to the Episode 18 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: Within a beautiful city- a hub of activity and a top tourism attraction- a dark underbelly exists. And in April of 2006- two innocent men leaving a dinner party found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. With so much talent and such bright futures- these men lost their lives in a brutal and inconceivable manner. The culprits? Other young men, under the influence of mind-altering...

Welcome to the Episode 17 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: In a country where gender rights have been legislated and same-sex marriage has been legal since 2006- making it the first African country to do so- here in South Africa we claim to have a constitutiion that protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation. But the hate crime statistics and cases paint a different picture. Although Cape Town is seen and recognized as a city that...

Welcome to the Episode 16 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: From humble beginnings to competing and dancing in shows across the globe; one individual’s journey inspired and brought hope to so many others. Aiming to bring light and safety to the plight of so many in a community often stigmatised, abused and isolated- one individual did all they could to share a narrative of equality, respect and love whilst empowering the impoverished community they came...

Welcome to the Episode 15 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: In a world where at times those of a bygone generation may be forgotten, one man saw a window of opportunity to wreak havoc on one of the most vulnerable populations- the elderly.  Whereas to society- a grandmother is someone full of warmth, kindness and love- to this man, they were just soft, easy targets.  His oldest victim- an elderly woman of 93 years old, left for dead. All were attacked...

Welcome to the Episode 14 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: In a rural farming community on a 5 acre farm, unbeknownst to many of the public, the idyllic surroundings hid a dark and disturbing secret.  In 2011, a boy only 15 years old was dropped at a wildlife ranger training camp. Little did he know that 10 weeks later, he would be fighting for his life in hospital- eventually losing his battle after suffering over 61 injuries- amongst them a broken...

Welcome to the Episode 13 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: Every day in South Africa, 3 women lose their lives at the hands of their partners.   This is the story of a woman who would live to tell her tale that would shock a nation. The abuse she suffered was at the hands of the man she loved; the man she trusted.  The police of Port Elizabeth would later say that hers was one of the most horrifying cases of domestic abuse ever recorded in their city....

Welcome to the Episode 12 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: The Eastern Cape is arguably one of the most beautiful provinces in South Africa. Amongst the rolling plains, rivers, valleys and farms there lies a small, rural village- Toleni which between the years of 2008 and 2013 became known as the Village of Death. Women and children attacked in their homes at night, defenseless.   9 years on, the fabric of society is still stained with the shocking acts...

Welcome to the Episode 11 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: Whilst other girls were taking Snapchat selfies whilst watching the latest episode of the Winx club, an 11 year old girl was fighting for her life from a man she knew; a man who lived just a few doors down from her home. The last words she would utter, God knows.  This is Stacha Arendse's Story.   For images, sources and real footage of the individuals and the case mentioned, please visit my...

Welcome to the Episode 10 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: This case is every parent’s nightmare. Imagine that your child goes out with friends- only to either never return or in the case of today’s victim- to return on the brink of death. Today’s victim is not so much a victim in my eyes but a heroine as she ended up saving another life and in doing so gave her best friend a  second chance at life. Unfortunately though her battle would be lost but not...

Welcome to the Episode 9 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: In a small valley just past Hermanus known for fine wines and fruit, horse rides and gorgeous dams- the veiled societal issues of poverty, illiteracy and alcohol abuse amongst those who worked the farms remained just out of sight and mind. That was until a spate of burglaries and assaults exposed the dark underside of reality with residents fearing that they would be the next ones to be hit by...

Welcome to the Episode 8 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: South Africa is no stranger to GBV violence but each time a new case manages to make it to the news, society is still shocked. Following the unthinkable murder of Courtney Pieters, the kidnapping of two university students and the brutal events that would follow sent shock waves through the South African community. On the 27th of May 2017- so many lives would forever change and rampant societal...

Welcome to the Episode 7 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: How would you feel if you sent your child to school- a supposed safe place- like any other day but instead of picking them up after school, you are called to identify their body?  In 2008- a crime almost too shocking to believe occurred in a school in the West Rand. Very soon, the media went wild and accusations of satanism and the occult dominated headlines. In the midst of this Satanic...

Welcome to the Episode 7 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: How would you feel if you sent your child to school- a supposed safe place- like any other day but instead of picking them up after school, you are called to identify their body?  In 2008- a crime almost too shocking to believe occured in a school in the East Rand. Very soon, the media went wild and accusations of satanism and the occult dominated headlines. In the midst of this Satanic...

Welcome to the Episode 6 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: What started off as an adventure, turned into a nightmare for one young woman in Thailand. Ashley Oosthuizen has been condemned to life imprisonment (25 years in Thailand) for a crime she did not commit and for which there is no evidence other than a signed parcel addressed to another person. Unlike the majority of the cases I have covered so far, this one is ongoing RIGHT now and YOU can...

Welcome to the Episode 5 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: When you hear the word cult, you imagine a large group of people under the influence of one main leader committing atrocious acts of inhumanity. But what if I told you that a cult could have just 3 people and that alone could be deadly enough? With a dangerous leader at the helm, in 2008 two innocent lives were lost in a sequence of events almost too bizarre to believe. If you’ve heard of...

Welcome to the Episode 4 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. About the episode: Nicknamed the South African Josef Mengele as well as Dr Death, it was Wouter Basson's role to produce chemical and biological weapons for a state sponsored genocide during the Apartheid era. To the unknowing eye, he appears to be just a regular senior doctor but behind his glassy eyes lies stories of pure horror that honestly seem too bizarre to be real.   For images, sources and real...

Welcome to the Episode 3 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. This is an immersive 3D audio experience so headphones are recommended (but of course not necessary)   About the episode: In 2019 in Masoyi, Mpumalanga, a heinous discovery was made in the garden of Julius Mndawe, a 25 year old man at the time. After further investigation, he was soon named the Facebook Killer and the Masoyi Monster. Today- we look into this case which truly epitomizes the notion that you...

Welcome to the episode 2 of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. This is an immersive 3D audio experience so headphones are recommended (but of course not necessary)   About the episode: Louisa Cornelia Susana Van Der Merwe was born in 2013 and just a mere 3 years later, her little life would be cut short- taken by the people she trusted to look after her- her family. During her months of abuse, although people saw what was happening, they and the authorities failed her. Her...

Welcome to the first episode of Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime. This is an immersive 3D audio experience so headphones are recommended (but of course not necessary)   About the episode: In 2011, the little mining town of Welkom, South Africa was thrust into the spotlight as news of a disturbing and tragic crime hit the media. The victim? 23 year-old Michael van Eck. The perpetrators? A young couple-Chane van Heerden (20) and her partner in crime (quite literally) Maartens...

Introducing.... *drum roll please* The Murder & Mayhem: South African True Crime podcast! (The official sister podcast to the Youtube series- Makeup & Mayhem: True Crime with Bella Monsoon. In a unique 3D audio experience, this podcast explores real life crimes occurring within South Africa from a psychological viewpoint with your host- Bella Monsoon. Every week a new case is examined and we delve head-first into the motives that drive people to do what they do. Join me on...