The BBC World Service announces a new investigative documentary and podcast series, “The Apartheid Killer,” exploring a dark chapter in South Africa’s history through the story of a private security guard who killed at least 39 people in the 1980s.
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The BBC World Service is set to release a powerful new documentary and podcast series, “The Apartheid Killer,” examining a series of brutal shootings in 1980s South Africa and the lasting impact of these crimes on victims’ families and South African society at large.
The story centres on private security guard Louis van Schoor, who killed at least 39 people, all of whom were black, with the youngest victim being just 12 years old. Despite being caught and arrested in 1991, van Schoor served only 12 years in jail, as many of his killings were deemed ‘justifiable homicides’ by the police.
The documentary and podcast provide a platform for the relatives of victims, anti-apartheid activists, and a journalist who pursued the truth for 20 years to share their stories and seek accountability. With unfettered access to van Schoor, South African journalist Isa Jacobson interrogates the killer, seeking to understand the motivation behind these horrific acts.
This thought-provoking investigation examines the unresolved trauma of racial injustice and the pursuit of accountability, while also exploring themes of death and spirituality as the families of victims grapple with their painful losses.
The accompanying podcast, “World of Secrets,” presented by Ayanda Charlie and Charlie Northcott, offers a deeper dive into the socio-political context of the time and features extensive interviews with those affected by these tragic events.
Isa Jacobson, co-director of the documentary said “The pain doesn’t go away: it just moves to the next generation. If we don’t tell these stories, as painful as they are to hear, we won’t be able to heal as a country.” Ayanda Charlie, co-presenter of “World of Secrets,” added “this story gives light to the human lives and families that will forever be changed by the brutality that was Apartheid. It’s a story all of us should know.”
“The Apartheid Killer” documentary will be available on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on the BBC News Africa YouTube channel and select media TV channels worldwide from Monday 22 July at 11.05pm. The “World of Secrets” podcast will be accessible on BBC Sounds and other major podcast platforms, with BBC Podcasts Premium subscribers getting early access to new episodes.
