'No remorse': 'Apartheid Killer' doccie sheds new light on murderous security guard
Recorded over four years, 'The Apartheid Killer' is centred on the stories of lives which have been shaped by the crimes of Louis van Schoor.
Picture: Pixabay.com
Lester Kiewit speaks to journalist Andrew Trench about the case of Louis van Schoor, known as the 'Apartheid Killer' after he shot and killed 39 Black people while operating as a security guard.
"One of the reasons why he was willing to talk to me is because I'm a white South African; because he feels safe with me."
Those are the words of filmmaker Isa Lee Jacobson, talking about the subject of her latest project, a BBC Africa Eye documentary exploring the life and crimes of Louis van Schoor.
Van Schoor, known as the 'Apartheid Killer', shot and killed 39 Black people while operating as a security guard.
In 1992, he was convicted of seven murders and sentenced to 20 years in jail. He was released in 2004 after serving just 12 years.
Andrew Trench was a young journalist at the time of Van Schoor's conviction.
He says he's glad the story isn't being forgotten.
"For those of us that were around, this was a very formative story... I did cover some of the court case."
- Andrew Trench, Journalist
Trench says Van Schoor showed no remorse at all during his trial.
"What I remember from being in a court room with him was that this guy was just a cold killer."
- Andrew Trench, Journalist
Trench says the case gripped the whole of the Eastern Cape at the time.
"There was even a support club for this guy. There were people driving around with bumper stickers on their cars, 'I love Louis van Schoor', with bullet holes depicted on them."
- Andrew Trench, Journalist
The Apartheid Killer was recorded over four years and features interviews with the relatives of Van Schoor's victims, anti-apartheid activists, and Van Schoor himself.
Audiences outside the UK can watch the series on the BBC News Africa YouTube channel, and via TV channels that broadcast BBC Africa Eye from Monday, 22 July.
The series will air weekly on BBC World Service radio from Wednesday, 24 August.
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Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.