Devilsdorp

What is the series about?

Devilsdorp is a four-part South African true crime documentary series directed by David Enright that chronicles the so-called Krugersdorp Killings — a chilling sequence of 11 cult-ordered murders carried out between 2012 and 2016 in and around Krugersdorp, West Rand, South Africa. Originally released on July 29, 2021 on Showmax, the series is now available on DStv Stream following Showmax's closure in April 2026. Narrated by Jana Marx and accompanied by a companion podcast hosted by Nicole Engelbrecht, Devilsdorp became a landmark moment in South African true crime storytelling, exposing a case that most of the country could barely believe had happened in their own backyard.

The Case

At the centre of the Krugersdorp Killings stands Cecilia Steyn, the self-proclaimed leader of a secretive religious cult called Electus per Deus — Latin for Chosen by God. Steyn constructed an elaborate personal mythology in which she presented herself as a former high-ranking witch and reformed satanist who had turned to Christianity and was now doing God's work. This backstory, entirely fabricated, proved devastatingly effective: it drew in devout Christians who became convinced they were fighting a spiritual war against evil.

Under Steyn's direction, a small group of followers — including, disturbingly, her own children — carried out a series of stabbings and slaughter-style killings targeting individuals that Steyn had designated as evil. The murders, which spanned four years from 2012 to 2016, were not random. Victims were selected and appointments were sometimes arranged to lure them, which is why the crimes are also referred to as the Appointment Murders. Because of Steyn's false satanic backstory, the press and public labelled them the Satanic Murders, though investigators and prosecutors were clear that the cult's ideology was a distorted, manipulated form of Christianity rather than any recognisable form of Satanism.

Among the identified victims are financial advisors Anthony Scholefield and Kevin McAlpine, both stabbed to death in May 2016, as well as real estate agent Hanlé Lategan, also killed in May 2016. Business owners Peter Meyer and Joan Meyer were found stabbed to death on November 27, 2015. In total, 11 people were killed before police unravelled the network of manipulation and violence at the heart of the cult.

The investigation eventually traced all 11 murders back to Cecilia Steyn and the Electus per Deus group. Steyn was prosecuted, convicted of murder, and is currently incarcerated. Her followers, who had been systematically manipulated into acting as killers, were also prosecuted, with several receiving prison sentences. The trial laid bare the extraordinary psychological control Steyn exercised over those around her and raised troubling questions about the intersection of religious devotion, manipulation, and violence.

Production

Director David Enright spent considerable time piecing together a case that, despite its scale and horror, had not received sustained national media attention proportional to its gravity. The four-episode format allows the series to build methodically — introducing the community of Krugersdorp, establishing the victims and their lives, tracing Steyn's rise to dominance over her followers, and then mapping the painstaking police investigation that brought the cult to justice.

Narrator Jana Marx provides a measured, grounded voice throughout, anchoring viewers in the factual record even as the events described become increasingly difficult to process. The series makes use of interviews, reconstructions, and documentary evidence to construct its account. A companion podcast hosted by Nicole Engelbrecht was released alongside the series, offering deeper dives into individual episodes and extended interviews that the four-part format could not fully accommodate.

The title Devilsdorp is a direct translation of Krugersdorp in Afrikaans vernacular — a nickname that took on grim new meaning once the full scope of the killings became public knowledge.

Reception

Devilsdorp was a phenomenon upon its release on Showmax on July 29, 2021. It broke the platform's record for the most watched hours in a first week for any series or film — a remarkable achievement for a locally produced documentary. South African audiences were captivated, shocked, and in many cases deeply unsettled by the proximity of the events depicted.

Critics and audiences alike described the series as shocking, gruesome, and jaw-dropping. On IMDb, Devilsdorp holds a rating of 7.5/10 with IMDb ID tt15128044, reflecting the strong response from a predominantly South African but also internationally curious audience.

The series was not without controversy. The labelling of the crimes as satanic murders sparked debate among commentators and religious communities, with some arguing the framing unfairly stigmatised broader religious groups. Others pointed to the cult's claims about evil spirits and possession as an example of how extreme religious manipulation can be weaponised to justify violence.

At present, DStv Stream hosts the series, though reports indicate that only three of the four episodes are currently listed on the platform — a frustrating gap for new viewers seeking the complete picture.

The Case Today

Cecilia Steyn remains incarcerated following her conviction for the 11 murders. Her followers were also held legally accountable, with prosecutions reflecting the varying degrees of their participation in the killings. The case remains one of the most disturbing examples of cult-driven violence in South African criminal history.

The Krugersdorp Killings continue to generate public interest, partly due to the enduring popularity of Devilsdorp and partly because the questions the case raises — about manipulation, faith, and the conditions under which ordinary people commit extraordinary violence — have no easy answers. The series stands as an essential document of a crime that South Africa is still, in many ways, processing.