True Crime South Africa
South Africa's flagship true crime podcast, hosted by award-winning journalist Nicole Engelbrecht — the country's most popular true crime show even against international competition.
Podcasts Like True Crime South Africa
If you loved True Crime South Africa, here are the best podcasts to try next. Matched by case type, storytelling style, and community ratings from our database of Murder, Missing Person, Investigative shows.
Why listeners love True Crime South Africa
South Africa's flagship true crime show — the first major English-language review site to cover it. With a binge factor of 8/10, it sits among the most compulsively listenable shows in the genre.
Binge Factor
8/10
Community-rated compulsive listenability
Format
Episodic
New case with every episode
Style
Empathetic; intimate; serious; victim-centred
Presentation approach
Episode Length
40-60 min
Typical episode duration
Host Style
Solo host
Presentation format
Verdict
Must listen
Our editorial rating
Recommendations
12 podcasts like True Crime South Africa
In the Dark
Listeners who want journalism-grade investigation into wrongful convictions, systemic racism, and institutional failures — more 60 Minutes than true crime thriller.
Serial
Anyone interested in journalism, legal procedure, and deep investigative dives into morally ambiguous cases with no easy answers.
Pipeline
The Crime Desk's investigation into four professional divers sucked hundreds of feet into a Caribbean oil pipeline in 2022 — and the failing safety standards that put them there.
The Teacher's Pet
True crime fans who like journalism-driven investigations with massive real-world impact; anyone fascinated by domestic crime and institutional failure.
West Cork
True crime fans who love atmospheric investigative journalism, Anglo-Irish tensions, and cases that remain unresolved and fiercely contested decades later.
Bone Valley
True crime fans who care deeply about wrongful conviction, prosecutorial failure, and the fight to free innocent people; fans of In the Dark will find this essential.
Your Own Backyard
Listeners who want investigative true crime with real-world consequence and single-minded, passionate focus from a creator who refused to let a case die.
The Missing Cryptoqueen
BBC journalist Jamie Bartlett tracks down Dr Ruja Ignatova, who persuaded millions to invest in OneCoin before vanishing without a trace.
The Trial of Erin Patterson
The Crime Desk's courtroom coverage of the Erin Patterson 'mushroom murders' trial — one of the biggest cases of the decade.
Bear Brook
True crime fans fascinated by forensic science, DNA technology, and cold cases with a genuine scientific payoff.
Charlene: Somebody Knows Something
The Crime Desk revisits the 2003 disappearance of 14-year-old Charlene Downes from Blackpool — a case that still has no resolution.
Someone's Hunting Us
NJ.com traces how serial killer Khalil Wheeler-Weaver preyed on Black women and girls in New Jersey in 2016, believing no one would look for them.
How they compare
| Podcast | Format | Country | Binge |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Crime South Africa (original) | Episodic | ZA | 8/10 |
| In the Dark | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Serial | Serialized | United States | 10/10 |
| Pipeline | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
| The Teacher's Pet | Serialized | Australia | 9/10 |
| West Cork | Serialized | Ireland | 9/10 |
| Bone Valley | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| Your Own Backyard | Serialized | United States | 9/10 |
| The Missing Cryptoqueen | Serialized | United Kingdom | 9/10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What podcasts are similar to True Crime South Africa?
The best alternatives to True Crime South Africa are podcasts that share its Murder, Missing Person, Investigative focus and episodic format. We've matched alternatives based on case types, storytelling format, and community ratings from our database.
Why do people love True Crime South Africa?
True Crime South Africa is known for its empathetic; intimate; serious; victim-centred approach to Murder and Missing Person. It scores 8/10 on our binge factor rating, reflecting how compulsively listenable listeners find it. It has earned a "Must Listen" rating from our editorial team.
How long are episodes of True Crime South Africa?
Episodes of True Crime South Africa are typically 40-60 min long. It follows an episodic format, with each episode covering a different case.
Where can I listen to True Crime South Africa?
True Crime South Africa is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. You can find it by searching the show name on any of those platforms.
What is the best episode of True Crime South Africa to start with?
New listeners are recommended to start with Episode 1. Episodes can generally be listened to in any order.