True Crime South Africa
A solo-narrated podcast detailing South Africa's most complex and often overlooked true crime cases with a victim-centric focus.
A deep-dive, narrative true-crime podcast focusing exclusively on South African cases. Host Nicole Engelbrecht provides meticulously researched, chronological accounts of crimes, from the initial events through the investigation and trial. The show is notable for its victim-focused storytelling and periodic "TCSA Rewind" episodes that re-record and update past cases with new information or for ethical reasons, such as better honoring victims.
“Its exclusive focus on South African cases and its "Rewind" format, where the host re-records older episodes to improve victim representation and add updates, sets it apart. The host's direct use of legal documents, like protection orders and court judgments, in her narration adds a layer of forensic detail.”
Who hosts this show
Nicole Engelbrecht is the creator and host of True Crime South Africa, one of the country's most popular podcasts. After a 20-year career in corporate management, she started the podcast in 2019 to provide detailed, respectful coverage of South African crimes. Engelbrecht is also a published author of several true-crime books, including "Samurai Sword Murder" and "Sizzlers", and contributes weekly to the TimesLive platform.
Credentials & credits
- Host, True Crime South Africa podcast
- Author of "Samurai Sword Murder," "Sizzlers," "Killer Stories," and "Bare Bones"
- Host, 'I Lived Through This' podcast
- Creator, 'Devilsdorp: The Official Companion Podcast' for Showmax
- Weekly contributor to TimesLive
- 20 years in corporate management
Other ventures
- I Lived Through This (podcast)
- Devilsdorp: The Official Companion Podcast (podcast)
- Published author (multiple books)
- Mentors other true crime creators
- Partners with production companies for documentaries
- Produces an Afrikaans version of the podcast with Jacaranda FM
What kind of podcast
- Country
- South Africa
- Region
- africa
When new episodes drop
- 01Episode 205 The Mpungose Family MurdersJun 23, 2026 · 31 min
- 02TCSA Rewind: Episode 31 The Serial Crimes of Sipho DubeJun 13, 2026 · 49 min
- 03Episode 204 The Serial Crimes of Asanda BaninziMay 25, 2026 · 50 min
- 04Episode 203 The Murder of Sasha Lee ShahMay 8, 2026 · 1h 12m
- 05TCSA Rewind: Episode 21 The Crimes of "Advocate Barbie" (with updates)Apr 26, 2026 · 1h 59m
- 06Episode 202 The Foster GangApr 12, 2026 · 1h 17m
- 07The Devil Made Me Do It with Dr Nicky FalkofApr 7, 2026 · 58 min
- 08Episode 201 The Murder of Donovan de JonghMar 23, 2026 · 51 min
Notable episodes
- 01The Murder of Sasha Lee Shah
Highlights systemic police failure and features the victim's mother, leading to a campaign for legal reform known as "Sasha Lee's Law".
- 02TCSA Rewind: The Serial Crimes of Sipho Dube
A "Rewind" episode demonstrating the show's ethical evolution, focusing on a "ghost" killer who was difficult to track and re-centering the victim narrative.
- 03The Serial Crimes of Asanda Baninzi
Details a brutal four-month crime spree by a teenage perpetrator and his gang, which resulted in a record-breaking 23 life sentences.
- 04The Mpungose Family Murders
A harrowing case of 'revenge filicide' where a father murdered his four children, illustrating the devastating impact of domestic disputes.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is not a traditional interview show. On the rare occasions a guest is featured, it's either through pre-recorded testimonial clips integrated into the narrative (as with victim's mother Jessica Naidoo) or a focused, topical discussion with an expert. The host has explicitly stated she avoids asking guests about their feelings, preferring to focus on factual accounts and the victim's life story, often using legal documents to guide the narrative.
This is a single-host narrative show. Nicole Engelbrecht tells the story directly to the listener in a clear, measured tone. Episodes begin with her signature introduction and a content warning, and are structured chronologically. The show is not a standard interview format, though it occasionally integrates pre-recorded testimony from victims' families or conversations with subject-matter experts.
Signature segments
- · "TCSA Rewind" updated episodes
- · Victim-centric storytelling
- · Reading from legal documents
- · Intro: "This is True Crime South Africa. I'm Nicole Engelbrecht..."
- · Outro: "...thank you so much for your support, and I'll chat to you soon."
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are infrequent and highly specific, typically family members of victims providing testimony for a case (like Jessica Naidoo) or academic experts like criminologists discussing a relevant topic.
- Jessica Naidooon Episode 203 The Murder of Sasha Lee Shah
- Dr. Nicky Falkofon The Devil Made Me Do It with Dr Nicky Falkof
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast is supported by direct listener contributions via Patreon, sales of branded merchandise through a partner, and a few direct sponsors like the insurance company Integrisure.
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.
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People also ask
- Who is the host of True Crime South Africa?
- The host is Nicole Engelbrecht, a South African author and former corporate manager who started the podcast in 2019.
- What is the format of the show?
- It is a solo-narrated podcast where the host tells the story of a single South African true crime case per episode. It is not an interview show, but sometimes includes clips from victims' families or experts.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, it publishes episodes regularly, typically on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
- What makes this podcast different from other true crime shows?
- It focuses exclusively on South African cases and is known for its victim-centered approach and "TCSA Rewind" episodes, where older cases are re-recorded and updated.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify and YouTube, and is also published on TimesLIVE.
- How can I support the show?
- Listeners can support the show through Patreon, by purchasing merchandise, or by engaging with its sponsors mentioned in the episodes.
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.
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
- [01]About - True Crime South Africatruecrimesouthafrica.com
- [02]Nicole Engelbrecht - Jonathan Ball Publishersjonathanball.co.za
- [03]Nicole Engelbrecht - Kingsmead College Book Fairkingsmead.co.za
- [04]True Crime South Africa · TimesLIVE Podcasts - iono.fmiono.fm
- [05]Meet the woman behind Africa's top true crime podcast - East Coast Radioecr.co.za
- [06]Nicole Engelbrecht's Profile | Muck Rackmuckrack.com
- [07]Nicole Engelbrecht - LitNetlitnet.co.za
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