South Africa’s true-crime obsession reaches new, terrifying heights with The ABC Killer — the just-released 3-part Showmax documentary that’s already earning praise for its gripping narrative and haunting realism.
The docuseries digs into the horrifying crimes of Moses Sithole, South Africa’s most prolific serial killer, who raped and murdered dozens of women across Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland in the mid-1990s.
With Fortress of Solitude calling it “another brilliant Showmax true-crime series” and 5FM branding it “absolutely gripping,” this is a series that doesn’t just revisit history — it forces South Africans to stare into the eyes of evil.
“We were bonded in a strange, ugly way,” says Tamsen de Beer in the trailer. “I was hoping he was okay all the time, which is absolutely crazy.”
Directed by Jasyn Howes — the SAFTA-nominated filmmaker behind Boetie Boer — The ABC Killer masterfully blends real-life survivor testimony, rare audio recordings, and re-enactments filmed on-location, including the actual courtroom and The Star newsroom where it all began.
The making of a monster
Moses Sithole wasn’t a shadowy figure lurking in the dark. He was smooth-talking, sober, and terrifyingly calculated. Luring Black women with fake job offers during a time of nationwide unemployment, he left a trail of victims from township to township — giving rise to the “ABC” moniker.
Between July 1994 and November 1995, Sithole committed at least 38 murders, 40 rapes, and six robberies in broad daylight. His reign of terror was finally brought to an end through a newly integrated, post-apartheid police force — a critical subplot in this documentary.
The case, much like the unifying effect of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, became a rare example of collaboration and trust-building in a newly democratic nation.
A killer calls the newsroom
The turning point of the series — and of the actual case — begins with then-rookie journalist Tamsen de Beer, who was working the night shift at The Star newspaper when she received a call that would change her life. On the line: Moses Sithole, calling himself the country’s most wanted killer.
Rather than dramatise it, The ABC Killer leans heavily on original evidence: transcripts of their phone calls, her diary entries, and chilling letters Sithole wrote from prison to a clinical psychologist.
“This story found me,” says director Howes. “Tamsen’s role in this case was underrepresented. She became the lens through which we understood both the horror and the humanity surrounding the crimes.”
Unheard voices, finally heard
The series also centres powerful voices long silenced or ignored — like survivor Buyiswa Swakhamisu, who chose to reveal her identity after decades of anonymity.
“I need to be brave, not just for myself. I need to be brave for other women that have been through these situations,” she says powerfully in the film.
Former detectives Frans van Niekerk, Paul Nkomo, and Derrick Nosworthy bring fresh insight into the case. Notably, Nkomo — a key Black detective who helped bring Sithole to justice — has never been credited in past documentaries.
Also featured is South Africa’s first criminal profiler, Micki Pistorius, who helped shape the country’s early understanding of serial killers.
Casting evil
Actor Gifter Ngobenisen gives a chillingly nuanced performance as Sithole, capturing the killer’s charm, confidence, and cold detachment. He’s joined by Louise van der Merwe as Tamsen de Beer and award-winner Graham Hopkins as Judge George Curlewis.
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More than just murder
The ABC Killer is not only a story about evil — it’s about systemic injustice, gender-based violence, and media ethics. It echoes modern realities where women still face manipulation under the guise of opportunity.
As we continue to celebrate South African stories that matter, The ABC Killer joins a growing list of local must-watch productions that shed light on our complicated past — and ongoing struggles.
“I don’t think we ever had a case where so many people were murdered by one offender,” says Detective Nosworthy. “This was the biggest case in our country’s history at the time.”
WATCH
Beyond the headlines: What ‘The ABC Killer’ really reveals
Whether you’re drawn to true-crime for the shock value or the search for truth, The ABC Killer is more than sensationalist TV. It’s a haunting reminder of what happens when trauma, systemic failure, and opportunity collide — and how journalism and justice intersected to stop a killer.
As South Africa continues telling its own complex, often chilling, always vital stories, Showmax proves once again it’s not just entertaining us — it’s reflecting us.
NOWinSA: Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
