Crimes Uncovered is a South African docu-drama crime series produced by Clive Morris Productions and based on true-life South African crimes that have captured the hearts and minds of South Africans and have resulted in the successful capture and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The show takes the viewer on a lifelike journey through these shocking crimes, where we get to know the victims and their families and share their traumatic experiences.
Through interviews, dramatisations and archive footage we uncover the mysteries and reveal what really happened.
We get a glimpse at the inner workings of the police and judicial services and witness some of the excellent police, forensic and legal work that has been achieved in South Africa.
Driving the show is narrator Malcolm Gooding.
The interviews revolve around families and friends as well as officials from the South African Police Service, advocates, lawyers, scientists and experts from varying fields.
Each story ultimately pays tribute to the memory of those souls we have lost to crime in our country.
Episodes
When Two Worlds Collide: The Brett Goldin and Richard Bloom Story
In the early hours of the morning on Saturday 15th of April 2006, four shots rang through the air-marking the end of Brett Goldin and Richard Bloom's lives.
Their bodies were found naked lying under some trees, next to the Klipfontein offramp of the M5 highway in Mowbray, Cape Town.
We follow the story of this senseless double murder; the collision of two different worlds, the despair from family and friends and the swift end to this case - as a result of the resilience of the SAPS.
Interviewed in this episode were:
Dorothy Ann Gould
Bryan Hellman
Denise Goldin
Craig Port
Sam Behrmann
Captain Kenneth Speed
Advocate Nollie Niehaus
Janene Jooste
Mark de la Rey
A Family's Nightmare Begins: The Leigh Matthews Story (Part 1)
On the 9th of July 2004, Leigh Matthews was kidnapped from Bond University campus in Sandton and held for ransom.
In a desperate attempt to get Leigh back, the Matthews family paid the ransom... marking the last contact with her perpetrator.
Eleven days after her disappearance, her lifeless body was found naked in a field south of Johannesburg.
Interviewed in this episode were:
Sharon Matthews
Rob Matthews
Lt. Col Chris Wilken
W/O Pierre Fourie
Brigadier Piet Byleveld
A Web of Lies: The Leigh Matthews Story (Part 2)
In this two-part episode of the Leigh Matthews story we follow the story of how the SAPS tracked down this ruthless and greedy killer.
We experience the harrowing experience of the Matthews family as the case unfolds and justice is served.
Interviewed in this episode were:
Prof. Anni Hesselink
Lt. Col Chris Wilken
Rob Matthews
Adv. Zaais van Zyl
Brigadier Piet Byleveld
Sharon Matthews
Dr. Mervyn Mansell
Prof. Ansie Dippenaar
The Ultimate Betrayal: The Taliep Petersen Story
Revered theatrical performer and musician, Taliep Petersen, was shot and killed during an armed robbery at his Athlone home in the Western Cape.
We investigate the "armed robbery" and uncover the truth of the cold-blooded murder.
Interviewed in this episode were:
Tagmiedah Johnson
Mynie Grové
Ma'atoema Groenmeyer
David Kramer (Archive Footage)
Jawaahier Petersen
Lt. Col Wagter
Fatiema Petersen
Ashur Petersen
Lt. Col Dryden
Dr. Peter Schmitz
Prof. Anni Hesselink
Aeesha Petersen
Sordid Lies: The Cezanne Visser Story
We follow the story of Cezanne Visser, dubbed Advocate Barbie, and her whirlwind romance with Dirk Prinsloo that left many damaged souls behind.
Together they approached local children's homes, claiming to want to help those in need. They would take young girls to their Pretoria lair, drug and sexually abuse them.
Interviewed in this episode were:
Susan Lemmer
Adv. Ren Oosthuizen
Laurie Pieters
Prof. Anni Hesselink
Captain Carel Cornelius
Adv. André Fourie
Snr. Adv. Johann Engelbrecht
Taken: The Sheldean Human Story
In February 2007, seven-year-old Sheldean Human was taken from her Pretoria Gardens home.
We follow the spine-chilling story of Sheldean's disappearance; the plight of her single mother Elize Human and the sheer determination of the Police force to find the missing girl.
Too Young to Die: The Jordan-Leigh Norton Story
On the 15th of June 2005, six-month-old Baby Jordan-Leigh Norton was stabbed to death in what seemed like a household robbery.
We delve into the story of the brutal murder of this infant; the pain and anguish brought to her family, the calculated contract killing and how the case was cracked through superb crime investigation intelligence by the SAPS.
Flesh and Blood: The Riaz Kadwa Story
Well known plastic surgeon Dr Anwar Kadwa and his wife Munirah were brutally murdered in their home in Crown Gardens in 2005.
Their son, Riaz Kadwa, his wife Nabeela and sister Nabila were in the house at the time of their murder.
Upon questioning, Riaz Kadwa said that intruders had broken into the home and murdered the couple in their bedroom.
Riaz Kadwa changed his story about the events of that night three times, along with other forensic evidence - this proved enough to put him behind bars for the murder of his parents.
Lost Innocence: The Fanwell Khumalo Story
Fanwell Khumalo, a man of many masks. He would stalk the streets of Hilbrow by day, in search of defenceless young girls to sexually abuse. At night, he would cook up a storm as a high profile celebrity chef.
We probe the story of this infamous serial rapist; the scores of girls he left abused and the events leading to his arrest on the 7th of March 2001.
Time of Terror: The Sugar Cane Serial Killer (Part 1)
The third serial killer to plague the Kwazulu-Natal Region in the last 10 years; the only one ever found.
We go behind the story of this gruesome killer. How he lured a total of 13 women into the sugar cane fields were he murdered and left their bodies to rot.
We also witness the excellent police work that went into this case and how the perpetrator was caught within a month of the discovery of the first body.
Sweet Justice: The Sugar Cane Serial Killer (Part 2)
In this episode we delve into the mind of a brutal and sadistic predator who lured innocent young women to their graves with the promise of a better life.
We see what it takes to secure a conviction in our courts and find out what justice feels like for those left behind.
The Ultimate Sin: The Father Lionel Sham Story
Father Lionel Sham was the parish priest of Mohlakeng. He was described as a mentor to many and had worked at Boys Town.
On the 6th March 2009, Father Sham was brutally murdered - we follow the story.
The Loss of an Icon: The Lucky Dube Story
On the 18th of October 2007, reggae star Lucky Dube was shot dead in an attempted hijacking in Rosettenville, Johannesburg.
We follow the story of the death of South Africa's reggae legend; the outrage against crime that ensued, the anguish his family endured and the incredible forensic work that helped crack the case and put the perpetrators behind bars.