Private investigator Mike Bolhuis on his new reality series… and the police minister’s ‘job’

For Bolhuis Beslis, the hard-nosed PI with the brush cut takes up the role of a no-nonsense arbitrator in small disputes.

TV viewers last saw Bolhuis in the gripping true crime docuseries Cold Blood: The Violent Crime Cases of Mike Bolhuis, which aired in May 2023.

In the four-part series, the specialist private investigator delved into the cold case of Yolandi Botes, a mother of three, whose dismembered body was found in the Vaal River in May 2021.

‘Bolhuis Beslis’: Better than ‘Judge Judy’ on steroids?

The new series, which premieres tonight (9 July) on kykNET, centres around everyday disagreements between people, with Mike stepping in to settle the disputes with a touch of Bolhuis before matters escalate.

In an interview with The Citizen, Bolhuis made it clear, however, that this is not just “another Judge Judy“.

“I’ve never watched an episode of Judge Judy,” said the man who has been involved in high-profile cases, including the investigation and sensational arrest of Czech former organised crime boss Radovan Krejčíř.

“I’m known for getting involved in people’s business,” said the owner of Specialised Security Services (SSS).

“My role in Bolhuis Beslis is to listen to both parties in my capacity as an informed specialist investigator before reaching a ‘verdict’ and coming up with workable solutions for those involved.

“I’m the real reality.”

The 63-year-old Bolhuis, who has gained Chuck Norris-like status in South Africa over the years, explained that he deals with these kinds of “scuffles” every day.

“You won’t believe how many people contact me on a daily basis to have small disputes resolved.”

WATCH: ‘Bolhuis Beslis’ trailer

In the first episode of Bolhuis Beslis, we get to know Alta, who tasked a caterer with baking a cake for her son’s 21st birthday. The caterer, however, completely misunderstood the “naked cake” brief… 

• Bolhuis Beslis airs on Tuesdays at 9pm on kykNET (DStv Channel 144). It will also be available on DStv Stream and Catch Up.

ALSO READ: Dog poisoning alert: Mike Bolhuis on how to bite back at criminals

Serious crime business as usual for Mike Bolhuis and SSS

So, has the hard-as-nails investigator Mike Bolhuis finally “gone soft”?

“Of course not. Apart from the disputes, Bolhuis Beslis also contains segments about my private life, as well as insight into the serious cases we tackle as a team at SSS,” the Pretoria crime investigator explained.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the primary focus of SSS was and will always be the investigation of serious violent, economic and cybercrime.

“SSS, however, will take in any and all cases, whether straightforward and small or complex – from a dispute between neighbours to a major criminal concern.”

Middelburg murder

One of the cases currently under investigation by the Bolhuis team is the shock murder of 49-year-old Middelburg businessman Johan Cowan.

The body of the director of Genet Mineral Processing was found with multiple gunshot wounds in his idling Toyota GR Hilux double-cab bakkie at the Snake Road off-ramp in Benoni on 16 June.

‘The minister should not interfere with the authority of the police’

When asked what he would tell our new police minister, Senzo Mchunu, over a cup of coffee if he had the opportunity, Bolhuis answered:

“The minister should not interfere with the authority of the police, Hawks and special unit forces. But he should address crime issues and corruption.

“Our authorities in the country should not be influenced by any political agendas in a sense that it prohibits them from investigating the man on the street to the president,’’ he added.

The outspoken private investigator also mentioned that appointing individuals to specific jobs for which they are not qualified and then expecting them to produce good results is problematic.

“You cannot hire a beautician to perform brain surgery.”