Through the lens of horror: Jasyn Howes explores the gripping tale of 'The ABC Killer', Moses Sithole
Image: Supplied
As South Africa was celebrating the dawn of democracy in the mid-1990s, a serial killer was on the loose, determined to exact revenge on as many women as he could.
Taking advantage of their newfound freedom of movement, Moses Sithole would prey on defenceless ladies who were in search of job opportunities in Gauteng at the time.
Dubbed the 'ABC Killer' – a name derived from his modus operandi of targeting young, black women across vulnerable areas like Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland, he would appear charming and friendly, meeting them in public places with the promise of an employment prospect.
As they walked together, Sithole would insist that he knows a short cut, leading the woman to walk into isolated velds where he would violently rape, rob and then murder them.
In about just 18 months, he is believed to have killed 72 women, making Sithole one of the country's most prolific serial killers.
He was eventually convicted of 38 murders, 40 rapes and six robberies, all which he committed in broad daylight between 1994 and 1995, and all while sober and not under any substances.
Now, a new documentary series, aptly titled 'The ABC Killer', is set to chronicle Sithole's reign of terror, from his first initial murder, all the way up until his being sentenced to 2 410 years in prison.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The three-part series is the work of director Jasyn Howers, who brought viewers the award-winning 'Boetie Boer.'
One of the most powerful aspects of the Showmax Original, which is set to premiere on July 22, is the first-hand accounts from Tamsen de Beer, a rookie journalist at "The Star" newspaper at the time, who received calls from Sithole regarding his murder spree.
Her meticulous research involving diary entries as well as transcripts from her phone conversations with Sithole, and intimate letters to clinical psychologist Dr Giada Del Fabbro, are also showcased.
'The ABC Killer' also features an anonymous inmate's video interview with Sithole, as well as official archival footage of his 1995 police questioning.
Howes, in a similar fashion to "Boetie Boer", employs extensive re-enactments filmed at real-world locations integral to Sithole's story, including "The Star" newspaper headquarters and the Pretoria High Court.
Meanwhile, Gifter Ngobenisen portrays Sithole, Louise van der Merwe steps into the role of De Beer and Graham Hopkins rounds off the cast as Judge George Curlewis.
Howes explained during an interview with 'Independent Media Lifestyle' that 'The ABC Killer' was a natural progression from 'Boetie Boer'.
'I was doing research for that documentary when I came across Tamsen living in Cape Town,' he explained.
Tamsen de Beer in 'The ABC Killer'.
Image: Supplied
'I wanted to feature her in 'Boetie Boer' but I realised that she had her own story to tell.'
Howes said that after doing his research and spending time with De Beer, he was determined for her to be one of the key individuals guiding this narrative and that he wanted this story to be told in a way in which it has never been portrayed before.
'One thing that has always stuck with me with this story is that if the Rugby World Cup in 1995 was Mandela's opportunity to unite a country behind a common cause, this case was also the same opportunity for a a fairly newly established SA Police Service who came together across racial lines to prove that they were there to serve the people of this country and not the select few.'
'There were also very interesting things which were happening with the forensic science departments at that time, and this case put South Africa on the map in a big way.'
Meanwhile, Howes also admitted that putting together a project of such magnitude was not without its challenges.
'When you are looking back 30 years, you have a tall task trying to find people from so long ago who you hope are still alive and that they still remember the details.'
He added, 'I was of the assumption that it would be quite easy to get the dockets for the case files that were linked to all the different murders, but it wasn't actually that simple because the information was scattered all over the place .'
'It is not easy, but when you see the final product and hopefully audiences respond to it all well, it will make it all worth it.'
Howes also believes that there are many things about 'The ABC Killer' which viewers will be able to relate to as well as be fascinated by.
'One of the things that surprised me the most was that Moses was brazen and his murders were not religiously motivated, he wasn't on drugs and he was a very cool and calculated human being who in this particular time in SA's history, was motivated largely by a distaste he had for women.'
'It is an interesting reflection of the dynamics between men and women at a point in South Africa's history where you had a largely black community who had not had freedom of movement prior to 94 and then all of a sudden, they were free to move to the big cities and to seek opportunities and Moses preyed.'
'I think they will also be interested in how the story plays out, how Moses was able to kill so many people in such a short amount of time and why he decided to engage with the most newspaper at the time to make his presence known and to almost laugh at the police and say that they didn't know what they were doing.'
Howes concluded: 'This guy is unique, we never really had a killer like this in South Africa before then and since then.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Through the lens of horror: Jasyn Howes explores the gripping tale of 'The ABC Killer', Moses Sithole
Gifter Ngobenisen stars as Moses Sithole in 'The ABC Killer'. Image: Supplied As South Africa was celebrating the dawn of democracy in the mid-1990s, a serial killer was on the loose, determined to exact revenge on as many women as he could. Taking advantage of their newfound freedom of movement, Moses Sithole would prey on defenceless ladies who were in search of job opportunities in Gauteng at the time. Dubbed the 'ABC Killer' – a name derived from his modus operandi of targeting young, black women across vulnerable areas like Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland, he would appear charming and friendly, meeting them in public places with the promise of an employment prospect. As they walked together, Sithole would insist that he knows a short cut, leading the woman to walk into isolated velds where he would violently rape, rob and then murder them. In about just 18 months, he is believed to have killed 72 women, making Sithole one of the country's most prolific serial killers. He was eventually convicted of 38 murders, 40 rapes and six robberies, all which he committed in broad daylight between 1994 and 1995, and all while sober and not under any substances. Now, a new documentary series, aptly titled 'The ABC Killer', is set to chronicle Sithole's reign of terror, from his first initial murder, all the way up until his being sentenced to 2 410 years in prison. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The three-part series is the work of director Jasyn Howers, who brought viewers the award-winning 'Boetie Boer.' One of the most powerful aspects of the Showmax Original, which is set to premiere on July 22, is the first-hand accounts from Tamsen de Beer, a rookie journalist at "The Star" newspaper at the time, who received calls from Sithole regarding his murder spree. Her meticulous research involving diary entries as well as transcripts from her phone conversations with Sithole, and intimate letters to clinical psychologist Dr Giada Del Fabbro, are also showcased. 'The ABC Killer' also features an anonymous inmate's video interview with Sithole, as well as official archival footage of his 1995 police questioning. Howes, in a similar fashion to "Boetie Boer", employs extensive re-enactments filmed at real-world locations integral to Sithole's story, including "The Star" newspaper headquarters and the Pretoria High Court. Meanwhile, Gifter Ngobenisen portrays Sithole, Louise van der Merwe steps into the role of De Beer and Graham Hopkins rounds off the cast as Judge George Curlewis. Howes explained during an interview with 'Independent Media Lifestyle' that 'The ABC Killer' was a natural progression from 'Boetie Boer'. 'I was doing research for that documentary when I came across Tamsen living in Cape Town,' he explained. Tamsen de Beer in 'The ABC Killer'. Image: Supplied 'I wanted to feature her in 'Boetie Boer' but I realised that she had her own story to tell.' Howes said that after doing his research and spending time with De Beer, he was determined for her to be one of the key individuals guiding this narrative and that he wanted this story to be told in a way in which it has never been portrayed before. 'One thing that has always stuck with me with this story is that if the Rugby World Cup in 1995 was Mandela's opportunity to unite a country behind a common cause, this case was also the same opportunity for a a fairly newly established SA Police Service who came together across racial lines to prove that they were there to serve the people of this country and not the select few.' 'There were also very interesting things which were happening with the forensic science departments at that time, and this case put South Africa on the map in a big way.' Meanwhile, Howes also admitted that putting together a project of such magnitude was not without its challenges. 'When you are looking back 30 years, you have a tall task trying to find people from so long ago who you hope are still alive and that they still remember the details.' He added, 'I was of the assumption that it would be quite easy to get the dockets for the case files that were linked to all the different murders, but it wasn't actually that simple because the information was scattered all over the place .' 'It is not easy, but when you see the final product and hopefully audiences respond to it all well, it will make it all worth it.' Howes also believes that there are many things about 'The ABC Killer' which viewers will be able to relate to as well as be fascinated by. 'One of the things that surprised me the most was that Moses was brazen and his murders were not religiously motivated, he wasn't on drugs and he was a very cool and calculated human being who in this particular time in SA's history, was motivated largely by a distaste he had for women.' 'It is an interesting reflection of the dynamics between men and women at a point in South Africa's history where you had a largely black community who had not had freedom of movement prior to 94 and then all of a sudden, they were free to move to the big cities and to seek opportunities and Moses preyed.' 'I think they will also be interested in how the story plays out, how Moses was able to kill so many people in such a short amount of time and why he decided to engage with the most newspaper at the time to make his presence known and to almost laugh at the police and say that they didn't know what they were doing.' Howes concluded: 'This guy is unique, we never really had a killer like this in South Africa before then and since then.'
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Municipalities accused of ignoring tensions between foreign-owned and local businesses
Deputy Minister Jane Sithole said her office had received complaints from street vendors in Bushbuckridge. Municipalities must investigate and take action on allegations that foreign nationals are preventing South Africans from starting businesses in certain areas. This is the view of Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole, who said her office had received calls from street vendors in Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge complaining about Pakistani nationals evicting them from their shops. Last week in Carletonville, spaza shop owners believed to be Pakistani nationals were accused of assaulting a woman and her husband for refusing to obey their order not to open a shop selling food near their stores. ALSO READ: Gauteng woman allegedly attacked by Pakistanis for opening shop near theirs In a social media video that went viral, a man believed to be a leader of Pakistani tuckshop owners conceded that the fight between his group and the family erupted after they continued with their plans of opening a store near his spaza shop. In an interview with The Citizen on Friday, Sithole urged municipalities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders not to ignore complaints from hawkers and spaza shop owners. She said there was a tendency for authorities not to attend to residents' complaints until it's too late. 'For now, I can't say who is wrong or right, but what I know is that people are complaining about this. We all know that chasing away street vendors is not the foreign nationals' job as only the municipality can do that. 'Hence I say the Bushbuckridge municipality and the other municipalities must take these complaints seriously and deal with them before the situation gets out of hand.' She said her department is investigating the matter raised by the hawkers in Bushbuckridge. 'We, as the leaders, collectively have a duty of making sure that confrontations between locals and foreign-owned businesses are averted. Most of the street vendors who contacted my office said they tried in vain to report the matter to the municipalities, traditional leaders and councillors.' ALSO READ: Illegal spaza shops 'still proliferate' despite warnings Sithole also urged the municipalities to erect stalls for hawkers to help them run their businesses, as some of them are breadwinners in their families. 'If you run a shop to make a living, please do not evict other people who are also trying to make a living.' Bushbuckridge municipality spokesperson Fhumulani Thovhakale was contacted regarding the Bushbuckridge matter, but she did not respond to the questions sent to her.
IOL News
24-06-2025
- IOL News
Gripping true-crime series explores the legacy of notorious serial killer Moses Sithole
'The ABC Killer' is a twisty true-crime documentary series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Image: Supplied. The gripping trailer has been released for the upcoming true-crime documentary series, "The ABC Killer", which takes an unsettling look into the life of notorious serial killer Moses Sithole. The Showmax series revisits a dark chapter in South Africa's history, offering both a haunting narrative and a fresh perspective on a case that still sends shivers down the spine. Three decades ago, Tamsen de Beer, a rookie journalist at "The Star" newspaper, received an unprecedented call that would forever alter her life and career. The voice on the other end of the line claimed to be South Africa's most prolific serial killer, calling himself "The ABC Killer" – a name derived from his modus operandi of targeting young, black women across vulnerable areas like Atteridgeville, Boksburg and Cleveland in Gauteng. Tamsen de Beer. Image: Supplied. In a chilling confession, De Beer recounts her journey in the trailer, stating: "It was like a journey I was on with him. We were bonded in a strange, ugly way. I was hoping he was okay all the time, which is absolutely crazy." Her disturbing connection with Sithole came during the same year that the late Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected president. Sithole was ultimately convicted of 38 murders, 40 rapes and six robberies, all committed in broad daylight over just a year and while sober. "This was the biggest case of our history at the time," reflects former detective Derrick Nosworthy in the trailer. "I don't think we had ever had a case where there were so many people murdered by potentially one offender," he continues. Former detective Derrick Nosworthy in "The ABC Killer". Image: Supplied. Director Jasyn Howes, who was a young boy in Johannesburg during the height of Sithole's killing spree, draws parallels with infamous American serial killer Ted Bundy, noting, 'He was our Ted Bundy.' The three-part series follows Howes's critically acclaimed first documentary, "Boetie Boer", about another infamous 90s serial killer, Stewart Wilken, which was nominated for various Saftas last year. In "The ABC Killer", Howes engages some of the key figures from the harrowing saga. Interviewees include de Beer alongside her night editor, Alameen Brendan Templeton, who expresses concerns for her safety. South Africa's first profiler, Micki Pistorius, and several former detectives also contribute their insights regarding one of the most chilling cases of their careers. The series brings audiences closer to the voices of resilience through firsthand accounts, such as that of survivor Buyiswa Swakhamisu, who relives her traumatic experience with Sithole. 'He used the promise of work to convince her to follow him,' it was revealed. Survivor Buyiswa Swakhamisu in "The ABC Killer". Image: Supplied. The documentary promises exclusivity with unique content, including an anonymous inmate's video interview with Sithole, as well as official archival footage of his 1995 police questioning. Howes, in a similar fashion to "Boetie Boer", employs extensive re-enactments filmed at real-world locations integral to Sithole's story, including "The Star" newspaper headquarters and the Pretoria High Court. Gifter Ngobenisen portrays Sithole, while Louise van der Merwe steps into the role of De Beer. Rounding out the cast is Graham Hopkins as Judge George Curlewis. With meticulous research involving diary entries from de Beer, transcripts of her phone conversations with Sithole, and intimate letters to clinical psychologist Dr Giada Del Fabbro, the series promises a thorough examination of a case rife with implications about society, crime and empathy. Even while serving an astonishing 2 410 years in prison, Sithole remains a chilling figure, reportedly studying law after completing a degree in theology. "The ABC Killer" is set to premiere on Showmax on Tuesday, July 22.
