This year, streaming platforms gave us plenty of gripping documentaries that kept us glued to our screens.
From true crime sagas to shocking cult revelations, we were entertained, enraged, and often left shaking our heads. But let’s be honest, we’re still waiting for 50 Cent’s Netflix exposé, “Diddy Do It?”
Here’s a wrap of the year’s most talked-about docuseries:
“Tracking Thabo Bester”
This Showmax hit had Mzansi and the world hooked. Chronicling the shocking tale of Thabo Bester, the notorious "Facebook Rapist," and his glamorous accomplice, Dr Nandipha Magudumana, the series was a true-crime masterpiece.
Bester’s daring jailbreak from a private maximum-security prison and the corruption that enabled it had everyone talking.
Journalists Marecia Damons and Daniel Steyn exposed the gritty details, while the doccie explored Magudumana's manipulation and choices, shedding light on the personal cost of this infamous crime spree.
It broke records as the streaming platforms most-watched documentary on its first day, proving just how fascinated we are with South Africa’s own Bonnie and Clyde.
“The Man with 1000 Kids”
Netflix brought us the bizarre tale of Jonathan Jacob Meijer, a Dutch sperm donor who claims to have fathered over 550 children — and counting.
What started as an altruistic effort to help people build families spiralled into a shocking obsession.
The docuseries delved into how Meijer misled women and couples, claiming they were among a select few using his donations.
Featuring interviews with affected families, it highlights the ethical and emotional fallout of Meijer's actions. For many, this wasn’t just a documentary — it was a cautionary tale.
“Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult”
This chilling series exposed the dark side of fame, focusing on TikTok dancers who found themselves entangled in a cult. At the centre of the drama was Robert Shinn, leader of the Shekinah Church and head of 7M Films.
The series explores how the desire for success and belonging drew people into a manipulative environment disguised as a creative collective.
Through interviews with former members, it reveals how cult-like tactics destroyed lives and relationships, making this docuseries both eye-opening and unsettling.
“The Station Strangler”
Showmax revisited one of South Africa's most haunting true crime cases with “The Station Strangler”. Norman Afzal Simons terrorized the Cape Flats in the '80s and '90s, leaving 21 young boys dead and a community in fear.
Directed by Nadine Cloete, the documentary examines how racial dynamics and systemic failures allowed the killer to evade capture.
With Simons’ 2023 release on parole, the series reopens wounds, giving a voice to victims’ families and asking tough questions about justice in South Africa.
“Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare”
Netflix’s Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare“ explored the astonishing case of Kirat Assi, a London radio host caught in a decade-long catfishing scandal.
Her online relationship with "Bobby," who seemed perfect on paper, unravelled to reveal a shocking betrayal by someone close to her.
The documentary portrays Assi’s heartbreak and the psychological toll of the manipulation. It’s an emotional roller-coaster, offering a powerful reminder to trust but verify when it comes to online connections.
From exposing criminal masterminds to highlighting humanity’s darker obsessions, this year’s documentaries brought the drama and left us with plenty to talk about.
Whether it was Bester’s escape or Meijer’s disturbing quest for paternity, these stories reminded us that real life can be stranger —and scarier — than fiction.