How many people did Louis van Schoor really kill? We reveal he carried out many more shootings than he was tried for. He said the police knew about them and supported him – that he had been made a scapegoat. Did he feel any remorse? What of the family of Edward Soenies, murdered by van Schoor? After 35 years, how have they tried to re-build their lives? The van Schoor case represents one of many apartheid crimes. It was part of a much wider, systematic terror - the legacy of which has left a trail of trauma still being felt across South Africa today. Since this episode was recorded, it has been announced that Louis van Schoor died, on 25 July 2024. This was a four-year investigation and the interviews with Louis van Schoor were recorded in 2022 and 2023.
Please note, this episode of World of Secrets includes descriptions of death and violence, which some listeners may find distressing.
Presenters: Ayanda Charlie and Charlie Northcott Original investigation by Isa Jacobsen and Charlie Northcott Researcher: Maddy Drury Production coordinator: Katie Morrison Field production: Isa Jacobsen Mixing: James Beard Sound design: Jez Spencer Original music by Anna Papadimitriou Series Producer: Jim Frank Series Editor: Matt Willis Commissioning Senior Producer: Anne Dixey Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel