Shocking revelations about the brutal killings committed by a security guard in South Africa during the apartheid era are revealed in a BBC World Service podcast.
The Apartheid Killer is the result of a four-year investigation carried out by BBC World Service’s investigative unit, BBC Africa Eye, and podcast World of Secrets.
Convicted of seven murders, Louis Van Schoor is believed to have killed at least 39 people, who were all black. The youngest victim was just 12 years old.
With access to Van Schoor, South African journalist Isa Jacobson, one of the film’s producers who has followed and investigated the case for 20 years, confronts him about his actions, seeking answers around the killings.
Jacobson uncovered disturbing evidence suggesting police involvement in some of the murders, which mainly took place at Cambridge Police station in South Africa’s city of East London.
She said: “Cambridge Police station is where a lot of these Van Schoor cases were being reported. It’s also where a lot of tortures were taking place.
“Van Schoor would radio in that killing to the police. In many instances we know the police would arrive very soon after the killing. They would take a quick look and essentially rubber stamp these as justifiable homicide…No real genuine investigation was ever performed.”
In his first interview, Van Schoor didn’t show any remorse for his actions. He said: “Maybe the public want me to apologise. But I’m not going to make a mockery of my own beliefs, just to please them. I’ve got no remorse inside. Because I don’t feel that I was wrong.”
Van Schoor was arrested in 1991 but served only 12 years in prison after many of his killings were signed off by police as ‘justifiable homicides’.
Joe Jordan, a former ANC anti-apartheid activist, supported Jacobson’s claims. He told the BBC that the East London police station was “known for killing” and Van Schoor was “highly protected because he was working with the police.”
He also described the abuse activists like himself faced at Cambridge police station, including being strapped to a bench while officers jumped on his back, wearing heavy military boots, which resulted in his back being broken.
Van Schoor told the BBC that the killings were supported by police officers in East London’s Cambridge Police station. He said: “Every officer in East London knew what was going on… all the police officers knew.”
The BBC contacted the South African police for comment, but they did not respond.
BBC’s World of Secrets six-part podcast series, The Apartheid Killer presented by South African journalist Ayanda Charlie and Charlie Northcott, explores the wider socio-political context and hears from those affected by the events in further detail.
The first two episodes of the podcast are available now on BBC Sounds, with the first episode available on most other podcast platforms also. New episodes will be released weekly on Mondays, available one week early on BBC Sounds.
The series will air weekly on BBC World Service radio from Wednesday 24 August.
