Profiler is a weekly discussion between journalist Paul Llewellyn & former Head of Forensic Investigation at the South African Police Service, Gerard Labuschagne, who worked on over 300 serial murder and rape cases in his career. Hear the stories behind the killers who stalk the streets of South Africa.
Teenage Serial Killer: The Vredendal Murderer
We’re diving into the chilling case of a teenage serial killer from Vredendal in the Western Cape. At just 14 years old, he committed his first violent crime—and his reign of terror only escalated. But could he have been stopped earlier?
Join us as we unravel the harrowing details of his crimes, examine the failures that allowed him to keep killing, and ask the haunting question: Where is he now?
This is a case that Gerard Labuschagne worked on personally, so you’ll get unparalleled insights and
The Serial Killer Catcher: Micki Pistorius
This Week on Profiler Africa: A True Crime Exclusive
For the first time ever, South Africa’s premier criminal profilers—Gerard Labuschagne and Micki Pistorius—sit down for an unmissable conversation. Micki, the trailblazing founder of the forensic psychology section at the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Gerard, her successor, take you behind the scenes of profiling the country’s most chilling cases.
From serial killers to high-profile investigations, this episode delivers unparalleled
The Murder of Anisha van Niekerk
In 2008, the brutal murder of Anisha van Niekerk shocked South Africa. This week, Profiler Africa takes you inside the case with forensic psychologist Gerard Labuschagne and retired Lt. Col. Jan de Lange, who led the investigation. Together, they unravel the sequence of events and the evidence that brought clarity to a deeply unsettling crime.
What were the key breakthroughs in the investigation? How did the psychological profiling and investigative techniques help uncover the truth? Gerard and
The Murder of Susan Rohde
In this episode of Profiler Live, we delve into the mysterious death of Susan Rohde. Was it a tragic suicide, or was there something more sinister behind it? Jason Rohde, a wealthy businessman, became the central figure in a case that raised as many questions as it answered.
Join Paul Llewellyn and forensic psychology expert Gerard Labuschagne as they break down the complex details of this case. From key evidence to the theories that still swirl around Susan’s death, we explore the twists and tu
The Tokoloshe Killer: Elifasi Msomi
This week on Profiler Africa, we uncover the chilling case of Elifasi Msomi, infamously known as "The Axe Killer" & "The Tokoloshe Killer". Between 1953 and 1955, Msomi, from southern KwaZulu-Natal, claimed he was driven by a tokoloshe—an evil spirit—to commit 15 brutal murders. His actions left an indelible mark on South African history, shocking the nation and raising complex questions about culture, belief, and justice.
Join us as we unravel the psychological and cultural dimensions of Msomi
PROFILER LIVE EP 2 - A Typical South African Serial Killer The Quarry Revisited
How Gerard and his team tracked down the Quarry Killer. We revisit a case we've discussed before on the audio pod, this time we get to really deep dive into the case and how it unfolded with crime scene photographs, forensics and more. Head over to Youtube to watch!
PROFILER LIVE EP 1 - SA's Youngest Serial Killer
Paul & Gerard discuss the case of SA’s youngest ever female serial killer. Join the chat Live on Profiler Africa on Youtube Tuesdays at 8pm CAT.
PROFILER EP 38 - The Rosebank Police Station Shooting
In 2011, tragedy struck the Rosebank police station in Johannesburg when a disgruntled police clerk attacked station commander Lieutenant Colonel Thandi Mkhize and Captain Neelavathi Naidu before turning the gun on himself. The incident, which occurred following a recent disciplinary hearing where the clerk was found guilty of mishandling firearms, shocked the nation and left lingering questions about motive and mental state. Join us as we explore the heart-wrenching events of that fateful day a
PROFILER EP 37 - The Sunday Serial Killer Sifiso Mkhwanazi
On March 13, 2024, Sifiso Mkhwanazi was convicted of the brutal murders of six Johannesburg sex workers. These heinous crimes occurred between April and October 2022 within the confines of his father's panel beating workshop located in downtown Joburg. Delving into the intricate details of the case, Gerard unfolds the chilling narrative as recounted by the perpetrator himself during a recent interview. Unveiling the grim reality behind this serial killer's actions, Gerard sheds light on the dark
PROFILER EP 36 - The Seesig Monster Kyle Ruiters
We're diving into a case that rocked the quiet neighborhood of Bellville in Cape Town. It was August 21, 2019, when Lynette Volschenk, known for her gentle nature and dedication to her work, crossed paths with Kyle Ruiters, who would later infamously be dubbed the Seesig Monster. Their encounter unleashed a nightmare scenario, shedding light on Kyle's dark obsession with serial killers and leading to a crime that horrified the nation. Join us as we uncover the chilling details of this tragic eve
PROFILER EP 35 - The Terrible Trail of Gerhard Ackerman
Gerhard Ackerman was convicted on charges of rape, human trafficking and the unlawful possession, creation and distribution of child pornography. Ackerman was also found guilty of attempted murder for “selling” the sexual services of a youth to disgraced advocate Paul Kennedy, who he knew was HIV-positive. This is the story of one of the bad guys.
PROFILER Episode 34 - Top Cop Part 2
In episode two we deep-dive into the story of Anisha Van Niekerk, and how Gerard and Jannie De Lange worked tirelessly to solve the case and bring justice to the family.
PROFILER Episode 33 - Top Cop Part 1
In episode one, we meet one of South Africa's most accomplished investigators, retired Lt Colonel and IPS Lead Detective, Jannie De Lange. We discuss his career highs and lows and his relationship with Gerard, as they reminisce about their time together and some of their favourite cases.
PROFILER Episode 32 - The Get Out Of Jail Card
We're back! Catching up on the state of the nation, and deep diving into the fact that some very interesting criminals are being released on parole. Through the lens of the Oscar Pistorius, Station Strangler & Donovan Moodley cases, we interrogate the parole system and whether certain people should once again be walking amongst us.
PROFILER Episode 31 - The Railway Killer
During 2005 four bodies were found in Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, along the railway tracks. This led to a serial murder task team being formed. The case would take 8 more years to solve. It would take patience, solid police work...and a little bit of luck, to ultimately catch a serial killer!
PROFILER Episode 30 - Forensic Tools With Peter Fryer
We go behind the scenes of crime prevention to discuss the technologies that are applied in local law enforcement, with Peter Fryer, who has spent decades providing the latest tech to the local police, and the private security industry, through companies such as Forensic Tools & Risk Diversion. What is out there, and how is it currently being used by the police in particular? This episode delves quite deeply into where the fundamental problems are within the mechanics of local law enforcement.
PROFILER Episode 29 - A Conversation With Colonel Tollie Vreugdenburg & the story of 'Die Boeremag'
An incredible first conversation with retiring Colonel Tollie Vreugdenburg, the Head of South Africa's counter terrorism efforts, about his incredible career. We focus today on 'Die Boeremag' case. You'd better sit down for incredible insights into why SAPS likely closed down the specialist units, to just how close Nelson Mandela came to losing his life. The episode marks the Colonel's retirement from service.
PROFILER Episode 28 - Talking Forensic Pathology W Dr Hestelle Van Staden
In this episode we take a fascinating deep dive into the world of Forensic Pathology with one of SA's leading experts, and a life long devotee to the profession, Dr Hestelle van Staden.
PROFILER Episode 27 - The Newcastle Serial Killer
In Newcastle, a town between Joburg and Durban in South Africa, in 2004, four men are murdered over the period of a year. All are killed in or around the exercise park bordering the town. Two of the incidents take place when the killer interrupts young couples engaging in romantic activities. He rapes the woman in each case, but he lets them live. The murders are brutal and the killer leaves little evidence. How will police eventually catch this incredibly dangerous murderer?
PROFILER Episode 26 - The Right Wing Tale of Harry Johannes Knoesen
On 28 November 2019 the Crimes Against the State (CATS) unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrested Harry Johannes Knoesen (60) at his girlfriend’s home in Witbank, South Africa. The charge? Contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (33 of 2004) by preparing and planning to carry out terrorist attacks, and soliciting support for an entity engaged in terrorist activity. The following day three co-conspirators were arrested
PROFILER Episode 25 - The Westonaria Strangler
“I want you to help me because when I am with a woman, I lose control and don’t know what I am doing. I kill all of them if they don’t give me what I want”...meet serial killer Jack Mogale, the subject of this week's episode.
PROFILER Episode 24 - Talking True Crime SA With Nicole Engelbrecht
In this episode we chat with Nicole Engelbrecht, creator and host of the True Crime South Africa Podcast, and author of 'Samurai Sword Murder', which tells the story of Morne Harmse, who attacked a number of people with a samurai sword at the Nic Diederichs high school in Krugersdorp in 2008.
PROFILER Episode 23 - The State versus Mariska Du Plessis
On 23 June 2017 Mariska du Plessis made two calls to the police. In the first at 22:55 she said that her husband, was attacking her son and herself. In the second, made at 23:15, she advised police that her husband had been shot by intruders. So what actually happened?
PROFILER Episode 22 - Current Cases (The Bodies in JHB) & Gerard's Guide to Investigative Psychology
This week we discuss some current cases, including the discovery of the bodies of murdered sex workers in downtown Joburg recently. Plus, we break down Forensic Psychology, and Gerard explains how you might set about learning to do what he does!
PROFILER Episode 21 - Killing the King of America: A Threat Assessment Case Study
Around the time of US president Barrack Obama’s visit to Sub-Saharan Africa in June/July 2013 an emailed death threat was received by the US consulate in Johannesburg. This is the story of the man who sent it.
PROFILER Episode 20 - Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren & the Murder of Andrea Venter
That one case that Gerard was determined to see through to a conviction. How Gerhard janse van Vuuren murdered his girlfriend Andrea Venter, and then tried to get away with it.
PROFILER Episode 19 - Brian The Stalker Harvey
We travel back to 2010 and discuss the case of Brian Harvey who stalked over 40 women.
PROFILER Episode 18 - JOSEPH THE AXEMAN NTSHONGWANA
In the space of just 8 days in March 2011 Joseph Ntshongwana killed four people, some of whom he decapitated with an axe.
PROFILER Episode 17 - CATCHING UP PT 2
More catching up...this time we talk about Gerard's 2nd book and tease the cases within it.
PROFILER Episode 16 - CATCHING UP PT 1
Profiler is back with new episodes. Paul catches up with Gerard to discuss his book, surviving a pandemic, and his thoughts on the current state of the police and crime in SA. Oh...and don't worry we will be giving away that book on social media!
PROFILER Episode 15 - THE AXE KILLER JOSE DA SILVA
In 2002, Gerard attended his first crime scene. It was that of the murder victim of Jose da Silva, who would become known as the Axe Killer. Hear the true audio from the interview conducted by Gerard, in the bathroom, where he killed his victim, on the day he was arrested. A gripping insight into the mind of a killer!
PROFILER Episode 14 - Tommy Williams
The incredible tale of South Africa's longest active serial killer. Upon his conviction the Judge said “The State (and here I include the two prosecutors and the SAPS investigating team) have excelled in investigating and prosecuting this case to its ultimate successful conclusion. The difficulties should be self-evident, given the fact that the 1987 matter occurred twenty two years ago, the inquest docket had been destroyed and material witnesses have passed away or have retired. The same
PROFILER Episode 13 - Stewart 'Boetie Boer' Wilken
I would strangle them while having sex. I would go into another world when I am strangling them and raping them. When I was strangling them, they would go limp, like a jellyfish, made me feel like a king .... I had sex with some of the dead bodies. Then I can have my ecstasy. Then I can do things the way I wanted to, there is no screaming and chaos. I would fantasize about the murder and masturbate at the body also (an excerpt from an interview in 2006, with the serial killer Stewart Boetie Boer
PROFILER Episode 12 - The Knysna Murders
In this episode we discuss a series of murders that took place in Knysna over a one-month period in Autumn, 2005. They became known as The Knysna Murders. Heinrich van Rooyen, a young DJ, was convicted for the murders of Jessica Wheeler(18) and Victoria Stadler(20).
PROFILER Episode 11 - Violent Fantasy
In this episode we discuss Violent Fantasy illustrated through the murder of Michael van Eck in Welkom in 2011. Michael was lured via a dating app to a secluded area, where he was murdered and dismembered. Later his face was skinned. What drove two people to do this?
PROFILER Episode 10 - The Norwood Serial Killer
Kobus Geldenhuys, the Norwood Serial Killer, committed house robberies, rapes and murders in the early 1990s in Johannesburg. A policeman, he raped 2 victims and murdered 5. Gerard interviewed Kobus from 1996 to 2001, and again in 2011.
PROFILER Episode 9 - The Nocturnal Prowler
In this episode we discuss a current case. A murderer, dubbed the Nocturnal Prowler, is believed to be killing homeless people in Pretoria. We unpack the case, profile the killer, and learn what to expect as the case unfolds.
PROFILER Episode 8 - Fetal Abduction
In this episode we explore Fetal Abduction, otherwise known as Cesarean Kidnapping. These crimes involve the forced removal, by means of a crude caesarean-section, of an unborn child. This may or many not involve the subsequent death of the mother. In recent history, 21 incidents of this crime have taken place around the world. There have been 4 incidents in South Africa, we discuss 3 of them.
PROFILER Episode 7 - Muti Murder
In this episode we discuss the phenomenon of Muti Murder. Muti murder is defined as a murder in which body parts are removed from a live victim for the sole purpose of using the victim's body parts medicinally. These body parts are then often mixed with other ingredients or used alone to make a medicine called muti. Muti is a Zulu (umuthi) word meaning medicine. The victim usually dies as a result of blood loss from the wounds. While muti murders have occurred throughout history in South Afric
PROFILER Episode 6 - The Hillbrow Birthday Rapist
In this episode we discuss the Hillbrow Birthday Rapist who was convicted on 112 of 122 counts against him which included 39 counts of rape, 11 compelled rapes, 1 sexual assault, 15 kidnappings, 15 assaults, 2 assault GBH and 29 thefts. He was sentenced to 39 life sentences & 212 years
PROFILER Episode 5 - The Griekwestad Family Murders
In this episode we discuss the Griekwestad family murders. Don Steenkamp murdered his father Deon Steenkamp (44) his mother Christel (43) and his sister Marthella (14) on April 6, 2012.
We are joined by Bronwynn Stollarz. Bronwynn is a Clinical Psychologist. She resigned from SAPs special investigative psychology section on the rank of Colonel. In the IPS she was the section commander of the Forensic Psychology sub-section, in charge of the forensic psychologists in the unit. She has worked on
PROFILER Episode 4 - The Port Elizabeth Prostitute Killer
In this episode we discuss the Port Elizabeth Prostitute Killer, Riaan Stander, who murder sex workers Lee-Ann Rondganger and Noxolo Ngqoyiya in 2007.
PROFILER Episode 3 - Serial Crime in SA and how to train a Profiler.
In this episode we discuss the history and status of serial crime in SA and learn how the cops are trained to catch serial criminals.
PROFILER Episode 2 - Creating A Profile & The Johannesburg Mine Dump Murderer
In this episode we discuss the history and evolution of profiling, and we profile the Johannesburg Mine Dump Murderer.
PROFILER Episode 1 - The Quarry Killer
Profiler is a weekly discussion between journalist Paul Llewellyn & former Head of Forensic Investigation at the South African Police Service, Gerard Labuschagne, who worked on over 300 serial murder and rape cases in his career. Hear the stories behind the killers who stalk the streets of South Africa. In this episode we discuss serial murder in SA and the Quarry Killer.