Sabido Productions

As South Africa celebrates its 20th anniversary of the advent of democracy in 1994, it is difficult to believe the ‘Mandela miracle’ nearly didn’t happen. In an orgy of countrywide violence, some were intent on derailing the first free elections. Now, for the first time, those responsible for countless deaths and widespread mayhem explain how they nearly brought South Africa to its knees. 1994: The Bloody Miracle is a chilling look at what these hard men did to thwart democracy, and at how they have now made an uneasy peace with the ‘Rainbow Nation’ in their own different ways.

In July of 2003, 8-year-old Sasha Leigh Crook stayed with her grandparents for the winter school holidays. On July 6th, her grandparents planned to take her to a birthday party where her mother Michelle would meet them. Excited about the party, the little girl played in the front garden, but when it was time to leave, Sasha Leigh was nowhere to be found. This is her tragic story.

In the rural village of Umhluwayo in Kwazulu-Natal, one of South Africa's worst serial killers was born. Sipho Dube came from a religious family but from a young age terrorised the community. By 2006, 30 year old Dube was found guilty of murdering six children, one woman, raping three girls and indecently assaulting two boys. He was also convicted of ten kidnappings, one theft, one robbery, one common assault and one assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Throughout his trial he remained unrepentant, rude and aggressive. He displayed nothing but contempt for the court. He was sentenced to ten life sentences and an additional 114 years. Some will say Sipho Dube was born to do evil.

The brutal rape and murder of Anene Booysen caused a massive outcry from South Africans, but the national outrage was short-lived. One year later not much has changed in the small town of Bredasdorp since that February night.

The last time Hannetjie Stadler heard her daughter's voice was a voicemail as she called for help during a brutal murderous attack. In 2005 the popular tourist town of Knysna was shattered when two young women were murdered in a nightclub over a period of two months.

A documentary about the tragic life of Charmaine Mare, a young girl who had come to Cape Town in search of work to help provide financial support for her poverty stricken parents. Mare arrived in Cape Town in January 2013 and stayed with a friend Kristina White in Kraaifontein. But, for a few days she would be left alone with Johannes de Jager, the boyfriend of her friend's mother. In those few days, court records show that Mare frequently had to plead with him not to make sexual advances, and even recorded their conversations. Sadly, nobody listened to her pleas for help, with tragic consequences.

This documentary is a fascinating story of a high-functioning woman with Down’s Syndrome. Not only did Sheri finish high school, but she has attained a tertiary degree and is a qualified school teacher. She is also a motivational speaker, inspiring people around the globe. Part of Sheri’s success is her remarkable memory, making her an excellent case study for a team of researchers in London, who are examining the links between Down’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease.