PODCAST | His name is Jerobiojin: The ethics of true crime

When 13-year-old Jerobiojin van Wyk went missing on February 2, his mother tried to get assistance from Klawer police.

Triesa van Wyk, mother of murdered Jerobejin van Wyk, is desperate for justice but faces a long wait as the accused Daniel Smit is number 93 on the waiting list for a psychiatric evaluation bed.
Triesa van Wyk, mother of murdered Jerobejin van Wyk, is desperate for justice but faces a long wait as the accused Daniel Smit is number 93 on the waiting list for a psychiatric evaluation bed. (Esa Alexander)

When 13-year-old Jerobiojin van Wyk went missing on February 2, his mother tried to get assistance from Klawer police.

Eventually, five days later, her pleas were taken seriously when human remains were found on the property of train driver Daniel Smit.

Listen to the story here: 

When Smit’s attorney told media her client said he was responsible for multiple murders and had connections with a cult, South Africans' interest was aroused.

Somewhere along the line, the boy's death became secondary.

In this minisode of True Crime SA, we explore the ethics of how cases such as the murder of Jerobiojin are covered in the media, on social media and by content creators.

For more episodes, click here.

Community Intervention Centre (24-hour trauma helpline): 082-821-3447

Join the conversation on Twitter at #TrueCrimeSA

E-mail the show: wordsmith195@gmail.com


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