4 days ago
Jasyn Howes goes beyond the headlines to expose the chilling truth of Moses Sithole in 'The ABC Killer'
'The ABC Killer' is a three-part true-cime series that delves into the life of serial killer, Moses Sithole.
Image: Supplied
South Africans have undeniably developed a fervent interest in true crime stories, especially those headline-grabbing ones that have deeply disturbed communities.
In a few years, I'm sure we will have something on Racquel 'Kelly' Smith or Tiffany Meek.
To date, we've seen "Tracking Thabo Bester", 'The Station Strangler' and "Devilsdorp" - not forgetting the dramatised series 'Catch Me A Killer' - on Showmax. Netflix also carried the highly anticipated 'Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star'.
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Expectedly, these offerings sparked widespread discussion on social media, with Mzansi weighing in.
The interest in such offerings has unfailingly fuelled film-makers to deliver more.
One such person is Jasyn Howes, who is behind the three-part documentary, 'The ABC Killer'. He previously gave us the Saftas-nominated offering, 'Boetie Boer', which centred on the '90s serial killer, Stuart Wilken. It delved into his backstory and what shaped him into a killer.
His latest offering treads a very similar path, this time delving into the life and actions of Moses Sithole, South Africa's notorious serial killer and a rapist, who was also known as The Cleveland Strangler.
The title references his hunting ground, which started in Atteridgeville, migrated to Boksburg and concluded in Cleveland.
Between 1994 and 1995, he is reported to have killed 38 women, some of whom have never been identified. The end reels of the series list the dates of his murders and all of his victims. He was also charged with 40 rapes and six robberies.
The series, which includes dramatised reenactments alongside archived footage and newsclips of articles, includes the first-hand recollection of pivotal people involved in the case.
The first episode lays the groundwork by introducing cub reporter Tamsen de Beer and her night editor at 'The Star', Alameen Brendan Templeton, with footage taken in the hallowed grounds of the once bustling newsroom where a byline was a sought-after holy grail by reporters.
De Beer's conservative upbringing informed her tenacity and out-of-the-box thinking as a journalist. She gave an overview of her work in London, where she covered the mushrooming techno rave scene.
Returning to home soil, especially during a tense political climate in South Africa following the first democratic elections, De Beer used her prior working experience to weigh in on the evolving music scene and the growing drug culture of ecstasy and DBH, which was a date rape drug.
Little did she realise how the Sithole case with juggernaut her career, especially with her working the graveyard shift.
Tamsen de Beer was starting her career at "The Star" when she was thrown into the deep end by interviewing Moses Sithole, who was referred to as "The Cleveland Strangler".
Image: Supplied
South Africa's first serial killer profiler, Micki Pistorius, and former detectives Ettiene 'Vinyl' Viljoen, Frans van Niekerk and Paul Nkomo share disturbingly insightful details on the case, which became benchmarks in their respective careers.
Pistorius was a greehorn when she was thrust into this field; as such, she admitted to turning to the FBI, who were the torchbearers on profiling.
Based on his childhood memories, Howes refers to it as Mzansi's 'Ted Bundy case'.
Why did Sithole hate women?
'There is only one thing that you must know now and forever. If women go around, f*****g around with men, they are playing with fire. When a man is hurt … it's true hurt. They can do anything,' Sithole said in a documented interview.
Initially, there was someone else arrested for the crimes and killed while in custody.
Was an earlier rape charge the trigger in Sithole's actions? The unquenchable rage within him hinted at it playing a role.
Frustrated by the SAPS's incompetence, Sithole reached out to 'The Star' to get his story out and set them on the right track, making it clear that the police had arrested the wrong person.
De Beer formed a rapport with him as he shared intimate details of the murders and, in building trust, encouraged him to come to the office and hand himself over to the police, which he seemed open to.
The other accounts are by survivor Buyiswa Swakhamisu, who was visibly traumatised by reliving her attack and her pursuit of justice; clinical psychologist Dr Giada Del Fabbro, and former crime reporter Phalane Motale.
A fellow inmate came forward, on condition of anonymity, to reveal how Sithole tried to sell his story.
Jodi Bieber, a freelance photographer at "The Star", also detailed her experience of tagging along with the police to the crime scenes, viewing the bloated boats, the maggots and the stockings.
She provided insight into how, despite being exposed to the unsettling crime scenes, she had to ensure that she was also mindful of not capturing the bodies in their full gore, leaving readers horrified.
She admitted that while the images remain etched in the mind's eye forever, creatively, it wasn't an easy task. She also highlighted the stark contrast between the "white and black experience" along racial lines at the time.
The series includes the collective strides made to capture him, the trial, along with a reflection on the pain and trauma he inflicted.
De Beer shared her regrets about inserting herself into the story instead of reporting on it because she became so emotionally invested.
As a director, Howes displays his prowess in telling disturbing stories through a human lens. He does that masterfully. It's evident that much research went into accessing transcripts, the telephone conversations between Sithole and De Beer.
Sithole, serving his 2 410-year sentence, is currently studying law on the back of completing a degree in theology.
Rating: 4/5 **** a standout series with exceptional qualities.
Below is a highly recommended offering in a similar vein:
'Rosemary's Hitlist'
This four-part series, directed by Valen'tino Mathibela, homes in on how Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu, a cop driven by greed, went on a killing spree, taking out her live-in lover as well as five family members to cash in on their life insurance policies.
At first, she used her job to conceal her dark deeds until a beady-eyed colleague spotted something amiss and decided to investigate, marking the end of her reign of terror.
