Share

It Happened Here

A weekly true crime podcast


Latest episode

  • 5. The missing masterpiece: Pretoria Art Museum heist

    28:28
    It’s Sunday, 11 November 2012, when three people stroll into the Pretoria Art Museum on Wessels street in Pretoria, and stroll out again with six of South Africa’s most historic and valuable art works. Two days later, four of those pieces would be discovered in the most unlikely place…Thanks to my interviewees from Stephan Welz & Co: https://www.swelco.co.za/ Sources:https://theworld.org/stories/2012-11-12/south-african-art-heist-thieves-steal-2m-worth-paintings-pretoria-art-museumhttps://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2012-nov-12-la-fg-wn-south-africa-art-theft-2-million-20121112-story.htmlhttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/14/Mystery-still-surrounds-art-heisthttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/13/Police-hunt-for-artwork-thieveshttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/12/Cameras-may-help-catch-R15m-art-thieveshttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/13/Police-probe-art-heist-tip-offshttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/13/Stolen-iconic-art-will-likely-turn-up---SAHRAhttps://ewn.co.za/2012/11/11/Robbers-strike-Pretoria-museumhttps://www.whistleblowing.co.za/art-theft-in-pretoria-informer-and-whistleblower-help-police/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/top-sa-artist-behind-r175m-theft-1422232#.UKM4xWdacmhhttps://art-crime.blogspot.com/2012/11/pretoria-art-museum-in-south-africa.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20311861https://www.sartle.com/blog/post/from-botched-restoration-to-selfie-destruction-5-of-the-worst-art-fails  

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 4. Love shouldn't hurt: The murder of Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels

    30:03
    August 30th 2019 was a regular day for Leighandre Jegels and her mom Ryta. The two were making their way to a boxing gym in East London, when a car started driving erratically behind them. In it was Bulelani Manyakama, Leighandre's abusive ex-boyfriend...Domestic abuse resources:https://genderjustice.org.za/helpline-numbers/https://help.unhcr.org/southafrica/welcome/violence/https://www.saferspaces.org.za/organisation/entry/rise-against-domestic-violence-sahttps://www.powa.co.za/POWA/ or 011-642-4345https://genderjustice.org.za/Tears foundation:  Text *134*7355# or email info@tears.co.za SOURCES:https://www.iol.co.za/sport/opinion/baby-lee-such-a-sad-tragic-violent-loss-32553068https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/eastern-cape/leighandre-jegels-murder-accused-has-died-31719068https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-08-31-sa-world-champion-fighter-shot-dead-by-her-police-officer-boyfriend/https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2021-09-01-jegels-anniversary-invokes-painful-emotions/https://ewn.co.za/2019/09/14/leighandre-baby-lee-jegels-to-be-laid-to-resthttps://www.all4women.co.za/1844257/news/south-african-news/slain-sa-boxing-champion-leighandre-baby-lee-jegels-laid-to-resthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8qnOWEu9WA&t=464shttps://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2019-09-12-tears-flow-freely-for-champ-baby-lee/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-09-11-fare-thee-well-leighandre-baby-lee-jegels-champ-forever/https://twitter.com/DrJessTaylor/status/1304327594989494273https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/verbalabuseinrelationships/2012/07/how-abusers-gain-control
  • 3. Friends, family & fraud: The death of Dustan Blom

    37:11
    It became known as the case of the body in the boot, abandoned in the parking lot of Montecasino, but there's a man behind that headline. In the wake of his wife's unexpected death, Dustan Blom meets exotic dancer Maruschka Robinson. He takes pity on her, offers her a lifeline, but Maruschka responds by taking advantage and - ultimately - his life.SOURCES:https://www.news24.com/News24/My-brothers-murder-has-left-us-shattered-Bloms-sister-20150818https://ewn.co.za/2015/08/20/Montecasino-killers-showed-no-remorsehttps://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-early-edition/20150821/281547994635253https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-early-edition/20140117/281698317604539https://ewn.co.za/2013/11/08/dustan-blom-suspects-racked-up-r100000-billhttps://www.news24.com/news24/cops-have-confession-for-montecasino-murder-20140326https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2014-03-26-montecasino-murder-fraud-cases-in-court/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2013-10-03-body-in-boot-case-stripper-in-dock/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2013-11-13-montecasino-boot-murder-uncovers-major-fraud-syndicate/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-late-edition/20140709/282574491181927https://www.news24.com/News24/Blom-a-broken-man-after-wifes-death-court-told-20150415https://www.news24.com/News24/Dustan-Blom-died-of-asphyxiation-forensic-pathologist-20150420https://www.iol.co.za/news/montecasino-murder-plotted-for-weeks-1851553 https://truecrimesouthafrica.com/blog-the-body-in-the-boot/https://fourwaysreview.co.za/201043/verdict-on-the-body-in-the-boot/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-early-edition/20150416/281535109519363
  • 2. Angels, demons, and thieves: the Mancoba Seven Angels massacre

    39:15
    It’s February 21st, 2018, just after midnight, when three vehicles pull up outside the Ngcobo police station. One of them is a police van, but the gunmen that climb out are anything but police. They head into the station and gunfire shatters the quiet calm of a small village police station. As the new day dawned on the village of Ngcobo, six people have been fatally shot… and a standoff with the Mancoba Seven Angels Ministry is shaping up.SOURCES:https://www.news24.com/citypress/News/crl-goes-after-cult-like-churches-but-laments-a-lack-of-state-support-20180301https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/angels-of-death-its-been-a-year-but-the-pain-is-still-fresh-for-families-of-ngcobo-massacre-20190221https://ewn.co.za/2018/02/26/4-appear-in-court-over-ngcobo-police-killingshttps://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2018-03-01-mancoba-4-of-7-killed-by-cops-innocent/https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2021-02-22-ngcobo-massacre-ghosts-still-walk-as-court-case-drags-on-past-third-anniversary/https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-03-02-mancoba-seven-angels-trial-judge-calls-on-police-to-use-modern-technology/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/tag/ngcobo-police-station/page/2/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ngcobo-church-suspects-court/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-05-ngcobo-shooting-suspects-in-court-for-mzimkhulu-double-murder/https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2018-02-26-church-battlefield-prophesied/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-15-police-scrub-away-mancoba-seven-angels-graffiti/https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2018-03-03-root-of-evil-in-police-massacre/https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/seven-angels-cult-members-in-court-for-police-station-massacre-20181105https://www.gov.za/speeches/home-affairs-conducts-audit-members-mancoba-seven-angels-ministry-documentation-4-mar-2018https://www.dailysun.co.za/News/pics-videos-seven-angels-trial-starts-20190903https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-02-26-ngcobo-killings-church-brother-turns-on-brother/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ngcobo-residents-still-feel-unsafe-three-years-after-massacre-of-police-officers/https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/mancoba-cult-kingpin-appears-in-court-on-rape-charge-20181101https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-02-26-we-didnt-know-say-church-followers/https://www.news24.com/News24/murdered-ngcobo-police-officers-identified-20180222https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/seven-angels-cult-leader-could-walk-free-as-npa-withdraws-rape-charges-20181206https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAwcmWthPa4&feature=youtu.be
  • 1. Song & dance: The murder of Taliep Petersen

    30:49
    This is the first episode of It Happened Here for 2022. In the spirit of the new year, I’m declaring this the start of a new season. Yes, the numbering won’t make tonnes of sense, but neither does much in life so we’re just going to run with it. This episode covers the plot to murder one of South Africa's most lauded musical talents, Taliep Petersen - a plot cooked up by his own wife, Najwa. Please consider supporting The District Six Museum: https://www.districtsix.co.za/SOURCES:https://www.timeslive.co.za/amp/sunday-times/lifestyle/2007-06-24-taliep-petersena-tale-of-two-wives/http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAWCHC/2008/64.pdfhttps://icaci.org/files/documents/ICC_proceedings/ICC2009/html/refer/20_5.pdfhttps://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-05-15-podcast-a-killer-beside-me-the-murder-of-taliep-petersen/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2008-05-06-najwa-petersen-was-demonic/https://www.mgia.co.za/taliep-kept-stabbing-secret-court-told/https://www.news24.com/news24/najwa-bad-blood-rumours-20071021https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/najwa-to-tell-her-story-400294https://mg.co.za/article/2008-04-10-how-detective-became-suspicious-of-najwa-petersen/https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-30-najwa-fired-fatal-shot-lawyer-charges/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/najwa-intruder-put-a-gun-on-my-head-410233https://mg.co.za/article/2008-12-02-court-finds-najwa-guilty-of-murder/https://www.news24.com/news24/weeping-najwa-called-me-20080424https://www.dailyvoice.co.za/news/taliep-petersens-killer-denied-parole-d7627ede-d682-4c46-927d-5faff90d7415https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/najwa-petersen-eligible-for-parole-in-20-months-accomplice-before-parole-board-this-week-3f5bc4a8-8876-4803-8f05-8be605e88a24https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/correctional-services-confirms-taliep-petersens-killer-has-been-released-on-parole-9d9a181b-2322-49e5-b7e7-fee73246b22dhttps://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=17860#:~:text=District%20Six%20was%20the%20first,New%20Musical%2F1999%20in%20London.https://www.theguardian.com/news/2007/jan/08/guardianobituaries.obituarieshttps://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2020-09-07-iconic-district-six-museum-faces-threat-of-closure-unless-love-letters-from-the-public-can-save-it/
  • 19. Snake in the grass: The murder of Siam Lee

    25:35
    In January 2018, near New Hanover, a small burning patch of sugar cane caught the attention of a farmer out walking with his grandson. As he got closer, he realized that there was more to the fire. There were drag marks in the soil, the smell of petrol, and just a foot or into the field was a horrific sight, a charred body of a woman, one arm lifted up over her head – in what her mom will later describe as the dying swan pose. One hand remained untouched by the fire, her fingertips still glinting with sparkly nail polish. www.patreon.com/ithappenedhere SOURCES:https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2019-06-21-siam-lee-murder-rape-accused-dies-before-trial/https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2019-06-21-siam-lee-murder-rape-accused-dies-before-trial/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/siam-lee-accused-also-raped-me-14452585https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ex-fiancee-of-alleged-siam-lee-murderer-sounded-warning-seven-months-ago-12836671https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-sunday-independent/20180422/281496456884723https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/mixed-emotions-as-siam-lees-suspected-killer-reported-dead-27250682https://bradnathanson.co.za/2018/01/31/meet-the-private-eye-who-helped-find-siam-lees-alleged-killer/https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/pi-company-under-scrutiny-in-siam-lee-accused-bail-application-20180307https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2018-01-27-siam-lees-alleged-killer-linked-to-old-murder/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/investigator-reveals-siam-lees-final-moments-as-murder-accused-dies-28767152https://www.news24.com/news24/SouthAfrica/News/siam-lees-mother-cries-as-details-of-her-daughters-murder-emerge-in-court-20181114https://northglennews.co.za/150395/durban-high-court-siamlee-murder-trail-adjourned/https://northglennews.co.za/148170/siam-lee-murder-trial-adjourned-durban-high-court/
  • 18. The night the music died: Nkululeko "Flabba" Habedi

    25:42
    The subject of today’s episode is Nkululeko Habedi – also known by his musical persona or nickname “Flabba.” Flabba’s case attracted a lot of media attention, because he was already famous as a member of the South African hip-hop collective Skwatta Kamp, and for his work as a solo artist. On the evening of March 8 2015, Flabba, his girlfriend Sindi and some of their friends, are all set for a night out at one of Joburg’s swankiest spots – The Sands, in Sandton. But the night would end in his death - a death that sparked a national debate about self defence versus premeditated murder...Sources:https://www.iol.co.za/news/i-was-there-the-night-flabba-was-killed-1911965https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/murder-shattered-flabbas-family-1995987https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/music/skwatta-kamp-hip-hop-shugasmakx-new-album-the-clap-song-flabba-nish/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2015-03-14-flabba-crazy-gifted-loving2/https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/2015-03-15-obituary-nkululeko-flabba-habedi-rapper-who-found-art-in-the-ghetto/https://www.enca.com/south-africa/flabbas-girlfriend-tempers-were-high-fatal-stabbinghttps://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2015-09-23-sindisiwe-and-flabba-how-love-affair-went-wrong/https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/if-flabba-didnt-die-sindi-would-be-dead-1949559https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/sindis-rights-infringed-says-lawyer-1915866https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2015/09/17/day-8-flabba-trial-and-i-stabbed-him-2/https://www.all4women.co.za/490546/news/south-african-news/flabbas-girlfriend-felt-degraded-and-disrespected-by-himhttps://www.news24.com/News24/flabbas-killer-expected-longer-jail-term-20160311