Profiler: True Crime Africa cover art
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Profiler: True Crime Africa

A journalist and South Africa's former top police profiler clinically dissect the country's most violent crimes and their perpetrators.

The brief

This is a clinical, analytical video podcast that functions like a masterclass in criminal investigation and forensic psychology. Rather than telling a story, journalist Paul Llewellyn moderates a technical discussion with Dr. Gerard Labuschagne and other experts who often worked the cases themselves. The focus is on the 'how' and 'why'—the specific investigative techniques, the psychological drivers of violence, and the systemic challenges within the South African justice system.

Its authority is its key differentiator. The primary expert, Dr. Labuschagne, was the actual head of profiling for the South African Police Service, bringing unparalleled, firsthand institutional knowledge to the cases discussed. The show's live, interactive format also sets it apart, allowing for real-time engagement with a professional audience.
— What makes it distinctive
§1 · The host

Who hosts this show

Hosted by journalist Paul Llewellyn and Dr. Gerard Labuschagne, the former Head of the South African Police Service's (SAPS) specialized Investigative Psychology Section, Profiler: True Crime Africa is a discussion-driven video podcast. The show moves beyond narrative storytelling to provide an analytical breakdown of notorious South African criminal cases. Featuring expert guests, often from the highest ranks of law enforcement, they explore the psychology of offenders, the mechanics of investigation, and the intricate details of forensic profiling.

AI-extracted bio · help us verify· Source: gemini-video-grounded

Credentials & credits

  • Gerard Labuschagne: Former Head of Investigative Psychology Section, SAPS (Brigadier rank).
  • Gerard Labuschagne: PhD in Psychology, MA in Clinical Psychology, MA in Criminology, LLB Bachelor of Laws.
  • Gerard Labuschagne: Admitted Advocate of the High Court in South Africa.
  • Gerard Labuschagne: Honorary Associate Professor, Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, WITS University.
  • Gerard Labuschagne: Founding President of the African Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (AfATAP).
  • Paul Llewellyn: Journalist and producer with a Bachelor of Journalism from Rhodes University.

Other ventures

  • Gerard Labuschagne: Director of L&S Threat Management, a private threat assessment consultancy.
  • Gerard Labuschagne: Author of books on forensic psychology.
  • Gerard Labuschagne: Serves on the editorial board for the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling.
  • Paul Llewellyn: Previously hosted the talk show "Late Night with Paul Viv".
  • Paul Llewellyn: Previously worked as a producer for the BBC.
§2 · Classification

What kind of podcast

Region
africa
§3 · Cadence & catalog

When new episodes drop

Publishing rate
~1.3/week
Not shown by Apple / Spotify
Total episodes
218
Last episode
21 days ago
Jun 9, 2026
Status
Active
§3b · Editor's picks

Notable episodes

AI-extracted picks + commentary · help us verify
  1. 01
    Inside the Hunt for the Nasrec Killer | Lt Col Elmarie Myburgh (Ret.)

    Features an in-depth account from a profiler who worked on one of South Africa's most notorious serial killer cases and marks her introduction as a regular contributor.

  2. 02
    School Violence: The Warning Signs | Gerard Labuschagne

    A timely and practical application of threat assessment principles to the pressing issue of school violence in South Africa, showcasing the show's preventative focus.

  3. 03
    Inside The Mind Of A Child Exploitation Offender | Col. Kirsten Clark

    A difficult but important episode that demonstrates the show's willingness to tackle complex psychological topics with expert insight, challenging common misconceptions.

§4 · Signature

What you'll be asked on this show

AI-extracted from recent episodes · help us verify
How the host interviews

The format is a multi-person video discussion, often streamed live on YouTube. Journalist Paul Llewellyn acts as the host, posing questions to guide the expert analysis from Dr. Labuschagne and a guest. The tone is serious and academic, and the hosts frequently interact with viewer comments and questions from the live chat.

Questions the host keeps coming back to

  • How significant was this case for you in your career?
  • How do you go about linking a rape with a murder?
  • What did the profile eventually look like?
  • What were your first impressions of [the offender]?
  • What are the warning signs we should be looking for?
  • How is threat assessment applied practically?
  • Do we have our own unique version of this problem in South Africa?
  • What are the motivations for possessing this type of material?
  • What is the likelihood of being caught?
  • What were some of the key pieces of evidence that started to link these cases together?

Signature segments

  • · Sign-off: "Remember, trust nobody."
  • · Interaction with live YouTube Super Chats and comments
  • · Calls to action for channel membership and support
  • · Analysis of specific, often notorious, South African cases
  • · Regular contributions from a core group of experts

Topics covered repeatedly

Forensic Psychology & Offender ProfilingSerial Crime InvestigationThreat Assessment in Schools & WorkplacesSouth African Police Service (SAPS) ProceduresCriminal Justice System & ParoleVictimologyChild Exploitation & CSAMGeographical ProfilingCold Case AnalysisThe Psychology of Violent Offenders
§5 · Guests

Who gets booked here

AI-extracted guest list + profile · help us verify
Typical guest

Guests are almost exclusively high-ranking current or former members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), particularly from investigative psychology, forensics, and specialized detective units, or relevant political figures overseeing policing.

Recent guests
  • Col. (Ret) Kirsten Clark
    on Inside The Mind Of A Child Exploitation Offender
  • Lt Col (Ret.) Elmarie Myburgh
    on Inside the Hunt for the Nasrec Killer
  • Ian Cameron
    on Only 1 in 14 Murders Detected
§6 · Channels & links

Where to find this show

§7 · Stats

Audience & reach

YouTube · first-party
Subscribers
35K
35,000
Avg views / video
3K
Trailing window
Total views
862K
862,332
Videos published
218
Sponsor readEstimated

The show is primarily funded through direct viewer support, including YouTube Channel Memberships, Patreon, and Buy Me a Coffee donations. Sponsorships are solicited, likely targeting brands interested in an educated, professional South African audience with an interest in security, psychology, and legal fields.

AI-extracted sponsor read · help us verify

Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.

§8 · Contact

Pitch this show

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Verified contact
Host / booking email
p•••@•••.com
Public channels

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§9b · FAQ

People also ask

AI-extracted researched answers · help us verify
Who are the main hosts?
The primary hosts are journalist Paul Llewellyn and Dr. Gerard Labuschagne, the former head of the SAPS Investigative Psychology Section.
What is the show's format?
It's a video podcast, often streamed live, featuring a discussion between the hosts and expert guests about specific crimes and criminal psychology concepts.
Is this a typical true-crime storytelling podcast?
No, it focuses less on narrative and more on the clinical and technical analysis of crime from the perspective of profilers and investigators.
Is the podcast still active?
Yes, it releases episodes on a weekly basis.
Where can I watch or listen?
The primary platform is the Profiler: True Crime Africa YouTube channel, with audio versions available on podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Podtail.
Who is Dr. Gerard Labuschagne?
He is a clinical psychologist and advocate who was the head of the South African Police Service's Investigative Psychology Section for over 14 years, making him the country's top criminal profiler.
Last updatedJun 28, 2026Not yet host-verified
Research depthDeep dossierHigh confidence · Jun 28, 2026 · gemini-2.5-pro

Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.

§9c · Methodology

Sources & how this page was built

This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence

  1. [01]Dr Gérard Labuschagne | Investigative Forensic Psychologistgerardlabuschagne.com
  2. [02]Profiler: True Crime Africa - Podtailpodtail.com
  3. [03]Gerard Labuschagne - L&S Threat Management Biothreatsa.co.za
  4. [04]AfATAP | African Association of Threat Assessment Professionalsafatap.africa
  5. [05]So who is PAUL VIV? | REPRESENT.CO.ZA (2006 Interview)represent.co.za
  6. [06]Brigadier Gerard Labuschagne - University of Birminghambirmingham.ac.uk
  7. [07]Profiler: True Crime Africa on Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
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