An apartheid era mass killer tells his story- what can South Africa learn from the past?
Jul 22, 2024
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Louis van Schoor, an ex-police officer turned security guard, shares his chilling story of terrorizing and killing at least 39 people in East London during the apartheid era. The podcast explores the lack of justice for his victims and the impact on their families. It also delves into the lack of remorse shown by van Schoor and the importance of uncovering hidden stories from South Africa's past.
Louis van Schoor justified killings as protecting white-owned businesses, highlighting systemic bias.
The lack of justice for Louis van Schoor's victims underscores the lasting pain and unresolved trauma.
Deep dives
The Story of an Apartheid Serial Killer
The podcast explores the chilling tale of Louis Fonsquie, a former officer turned security guard who terrorized and murdered at least 39 people in East London during the late 1980s. Fonsquie targeted only black victims, with the youngest being a 12-year-old child. Despite being found guilty of seven murders, he was initially seen as justified by local authorities, embodying a dark chapter in South Africa's history.
Impact on Victims' Families and Justice
The episode delves into the impact of Fonsquie's crimes on the victims' families, including interviews with Marlene Mvumbi, whose brother Edward Sunnies was one of the victims. Marlene fondly recalls her brother as a kind-hearted individual and narrates the heart-wrenching journey of discovering his fate. The lack of closure and justice for many families highlights the lasting pain and sorrow caused by Fonsquie's actions.
Documentary Reflections and Unanswered Questions
Through the lens of a documentary, the episode reflects on the elusive nature of justice in Fonsquie's case. The filmmakers and interviewees confront the lack of remorse shown by Fonsquie and the systemic failures that allowed his heinous crimes to go unpunished. This exploration aims to shed light on hidden narratives, encouraging a deeper societal reflection and accountability for past atrocities.
‘The Apartheid Killer’ is the latest investigation from the BBC Africa Eye team. Filmed over four years, it tells the story of Louis van Schoor, an ex-police officer turned security guard who in the late 1980's terrorised and killed at least 39 people in the South African city of East London. All of his victims were black and the youngest was just 12 years old.
He was finally arrested in 1991. But was released from prison after just over a decade in jail.
More than 30 of Louis van Schoor’s killings are still categorised as ‘justifiable homicides’ by police today. In his version of events, he’d caught the people he killed breaking into the white-owned businesses he was employed to protect and says he acted “within the law.”
In today’s episode, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Marlene Mvumbi, the sister of a man murdered by van Schoor and the co-director of ‘The Apartheid Killer’ freelance filmmaker and journalist Isa Jacobson.
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