Bedford Park resident and former investigative journalist Janine Lazarus recently published her first book, Bait – To catch a killer.
It tells her story reporting on the crimes and activities of the Norwood rapist and serial killer during the 1990s.
In her book, which was published in August, Janine details how she was used by police as a decoy to hunt Kobus Geldenhuys, who had terrorised the suburb of Norwood.
Set in the newsroom of the pre-digital age, the story competed with some of the largest headlines of the time as SA transitioned into democracy.
ALSO READ: CoE reaches the million Covid-19 vaccination mark
Written as a behind-the-headlines true crime memoir with an unusual twist, Bait – To catch a killer explores newsroom ethics and questionable police procedures against the backdrop of diving into the power relationship between a reporter, an editor and a serial killer.
With over 30 years in the media industry, Janine recently met with the NEWS to give insight behind her book and what led to her writing it.
She explained that her passion for crime started after she fell in love with the American legal drama television series LA Law.
After realising her passion, Janine attended university where she started studying law.
It then dawned upon her that criminal litigation was not the career choice for her and so Janine decided to pursue a career in journalism.
Starting at a Jewish publication, Janine went on to work as a general news reporter for several months at the Citizen before moving on to the Sunday Times as a crime reporter.
Janine’s tenacity, determination and hard work led to her becoming the head of the crime desk and an investigative journalist at The Sunday Star and then an investigative journalist at The Saturday Star
“My career kicked into gear while at the Star,” explained Janine.
She highlighted that it was during this time of her career that she came face to face with a killer.
While working for the Star, Janine also lived in the suburb of Norwood.
She explained that some of the rapes and murders were occurring only two and a half kilometres from the block of flats where she was living at the time.
“Norwood was where I lived and loved, but as the killer struck the suburb became a ghost town,” said Janine.
She explained that as the killings continued all the single women moved out of the area.
“The only shops making money at the time were security companies.”
Janine said readers can expect more than a book telling her journey reporting on the Norwood serial killer, breaking journalistic rules, being berated by her editor and being used by the police in an attempt to catch Geldenhuys.
“It has been a dream of mine to write a book but this is not a news reportage kind of book,” explained Janine.
It took her two and half years to write Bait – To catch a killer.
The book, which Janine described as part memoir part crime thriller, lays bare her emotions.
She said after submitting the manuscript she felt a massive wave of relief. Janine said to date the reception of the book has been positive.
Having been on numerous radio talk shows, Janine believes those who would enjoy the book most are those who enjoy watching or reading the crime genre.
Visit www.nb.co.za for more information about the book.
Also follow us on:
