Just Off the Highway | Episode 35 | Daisy De Melker (Part 2) Can traces still be found in Joburg?

Part 2 of the story of Daisy De Melker, murderer, and suspected serial killer in 1930’s Johannesburg. Al Prodgers tracks down some real sites, visits those that are only connected by urban legend and ends off at an eerie final resting place.
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Daisy De Melker Part 1: • Just Off the Highway |...
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[@paulpereira2832]

Both these episodes, like Rachel de Beer or slap chips from Gregory's in Linden, are lovely.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks so much!

[@rodprodgers9058]

fascinating and well told, Al; hanged a month after sentence, hey? they didn’t piss about in those days . . .

[@JustOfftheHighway]

A bit disturbing that they did it so quickly. Pretty certain of themselves. Thanks for your kind comment, Rod.

[@DavidBatzofin]

Another fascinating episode Al. And you are correct, our city, love it or hate it, has history on almost every corner. I wish Just off the Highway continued audience growth and I look forward to what Episode 36 brings.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks for your kind words of encouragement, David! And for sharing.

[@UlandiAnnandale]

So interesting! Wowie, Jeepers this woman was next level! Loved the episode Al!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks Ulandi! And thanks for all your help.

[@KittynFranky7643]

Retired a few years now, but thanks for the tour of where I worked for many years. Also thanks for making Joburg south look so much better than what it actually looks. All of this video is my past and present. And of course I have never seen a ghost at the white house, that used to be the name of the house you showed. Good Night and thank you.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

It's been an exciting process discovering places in the South. It has a strong identity. I am starting to understand why people are very proud of their heritage. And thanks for adding that detail about the white house.

[@marclurie5574]

Hi Al, I can confirm that Spilkin's Pharmacy was definitely on that corner in Rosettenville.. I remember my mother pointing it out to me and telling me about the Daisy De Melker case. I even have some memories about going inside to visit my great uncle Abe.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

We leave footprints wherever we go. So special to discover that this story has a real connection to you. Imagine the conversations we could have had if we'd known that all those years ago.

[@marclurie5574]

No kidding... My grandfather used to tell me about meeting Herman Charles Bosman, and apparently Bosman even named my granddad in some of his writing... I don't know if that was just bluster, but maybe I should try to investigate further. LOL @@JustOfftheHighway

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Yes. Contact me next time you're in town. Would love to talk about it.

[@leonehlers7241]

Mr. Prodgers! Well done. Absolutely addicted to your videos and the fascinating stories. Please continue doing this. My absolute thanks

[@JustOfftheHighway]

My pleasure, Leon. Thank you for your continuous support and kind comments. Much appreciated.

[@TatsEntertainment]

As a fan of local history, and also someone with a morbid fascination with the delightful Ms De Melker, I'm loving these episodes! But your channel in general, is a treasure chest to dive into: your offbeat sense of humour, your subject matter, and even that dodgy "classic vehicle" of yours, imbue your channel with character. Bravo!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks for your kind and encouraging comments Tat!

[@peterwestraat7740]

I like your content thank you. And like your car more I love vintage/classic cars.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks! Yep, the old Corona is a beauty.

[@warren6899]

My erstwhile parter worked at Spilkens and told me that he was actually.shown the poison register, which de melker signed , and yes spilkens pharmacy did occupy the corner shop in Turfontein.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you for that confirmation. Must be fascinating to see an artifact like that. It certainly brought the reality home to me when I visited the grave.

[@glendagradwell8710]

My grandmother attended all the hearings in court for her trial, at that time she was living in Bez Valley. My grandmother told us all about it back in the 1960's.😮

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Yes, in a macabre way, she was a celebrity.

[@dawidmaree5002]

I grew up in Kenilworth, in Donnelly street. In the 70s, 80s and some of the 90s. And the last house you show I knew as the Daisy de Melker house.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Yes, people claim to have seen her "ghostly figure" in the window, but I couldn't find a connection.

[@YESYES-qz2ex]

I worked with a lady who as a baby of a few months old stayed in the "white house". She told me that her parents moved in but stayed only about a week or two and moved out very quickly due to the following reason: My friend's mother would bath her in a baby bath that she placed on her bed. Her baby clothes were next to the bath as well as the towel. After the bath, her mom would dry her and dress her. Then her mom would take the baby bath to the bathroom, pour out the water and wipe the bath dry. When her mom returned to her room, the baby would be stark naked and the clothes neatly folded up. The parents enquired at the neighbours about the "ghostly happenings" going on. It was only then that they found out that Daisy De Melker used to live there. That's their reason for packing up so quickly and getting out of there. Also, years ago while listening to a chat show on radio, I heard a woman tell that her grandmother was a prison warden. She walked Daisy to the gallows. On the way Daisy finally admitted that she did not intend for her son to die, but he drank the tea in the flask that was meant for her husband.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Wow! Creepy! And the warden's story makes the whole saga even more disturbing.

[@charlesknowles6301]

I saw the first video, and now the second. Very informative and interesting. Daisy is the stuff of legend. So many South Africans have heard about her? But not much about where the story of Daisy unfolded. I lived in Johannesburg back in the 90's and was not aware that i iived and walked in the same neighborhoods as she did. Johannesburg has a rich history, and i think more videos should be made like this one.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks very much! I'm glad I added an interesting angle.

[@ARenewedmind]

Thank you for this Al. My grandmother and mother told us snippets of her story when we were children especially when we passed Wemmer Pan, not sure why... Now I am able to send the story on to my sister who lives in Australia. 😊

[@JustOfftheHighway]

That's brilliant, thanks! I love it when Just Off the Highway re-awakens memories.

[@stevenmaritz759]

Really enjoying all your episodes Mr Prodgers.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you very much!

[@tanyaroets2833]

Finally! 😂 It was a long wait for part 2, Al ... Thanks so much for sharing Daisy's story. Like many others, I grew up with aunts who'd refer to women they didn't like as a "regte Daisy de Melker" 😂 Needless to say, that's where my fascination with her began. My dad drove us to a couple of those sites in Jo'burg ...

[@lindadutoit3244]

Hi Al, I would like to add to this comment. I was born in 1969, and even then Daisy was talked about. I say this because on days when my hair went all frizzy when I was a child, he would call me Daisy de Melker.😅 That is where my facination with her started. We stayed in the nearby suburbs of Germiston an driving sometimes took us on a road passing her house my father showed my brother and I, and that drive then was the hit of the day😊. When I had my children in the early 1990's I told them what my father use to call me if I have "off hair days", refering to myself saying, I look like Daisy today. Sobthe kids asked, who was she? what did she look like? when I make that comment. Now in the 2023, there is still a generation who knows about Daisy de Melker. Once bought them a book "verlore skakels" which had her and other misteriiys South African stories in it. They loved the book. Your "off the road" give life to those short tellings in the book. Maybe you can try to find the book and make it come live. Love your off the road❤. It give a bit back of our history, which we feel we lost in this political back ground of today.

[@lindadutoit3244]

Sho@ my english is not really so bad as I wrote😂. Seems I have grade 00 english second language and I have a bad habit of just hitting the send button, before I check for tence and spelling errors, but I am sure you got the message😅

[@JustOfftheHighway]

😆Thanks, Linda! I got the message and I will search for that book. Thanks for sharing!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks! I wish I had known the "regte Daisy De Melker" term when I made the episode.

[@jennysmith330]

My grandfather used to tell me about Daisy De Melke. I will always remember this story.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks. I'm glad I was able to stimulate a good memory.

[@vic.smittie.5668]

*r.

[@premierhoner614]

WOW Al... Thank you very much for all your efforts and postings. I'm very hooked on your videos.. One can see that you are enjoying what you are doing. Take a big high 5.... 😅😅

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you very much! High 5 accepted and returned. Glad I can share this crazy project with people.

[@alison__16]

Yes! I've been waiting for this. Been saving part one so I can watch them both together.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you! I hope you enjoy.

[@JohnFletcher-hz1mp]

Good tactics!!!!

[@osks]

Great production!!!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you very much for your kind comment.

[@carolinedecastro4171]

My grandmother was a doctor at weskoppies hospital she had to access Daisy and she found her mentally disturbed. She did not want to kill her son he accidentally drank out of the flask. However my grandmother's report stated that she found her mentally ill and that she would continue to kill if she was not sent to prison. She was a high risk.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Fascinating.

[@GoostTube]

Daisy's Turfclub Road house was misreported by a newspaper reporter in the newspaper that she temporarily stayed there for two weeks and that's why everyone knows the Turfclub Road house as Daisy's house and that is where the urban legend was started that at 6 o'clock in the evening in the top window you can see Daisy's hand open the curtain as she waits for her husbands to come home.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

That's a lovely bit of detail. Thanks!

[@hildagreen7143]

Only found your channel today! So impressed 👍👌 Boet

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you very much. I hope you browse around and enjoy the variety.

[@chrisnunns9652]

Daisy De Melker touched many lives including my maternal grandfather, Lionel Rabinson. My mother told the story that my grandfather, who was very involved with rugby, (he had played rugby for Transvaal and Rhodesia and ended up as a V Pres of the Tvl Rugby Union), was friendly with Syd de Melker, ex rugby Springbok I think you mentioned. Apparently my grandfather had visited the de Melkers for dinner a day or two before Syd was poisoned, and counted himself lucky not to have been caught up in the poisonings. My mother also told me that at the time of the trial outcome, the women of Johannesburg could forgive Daisy for poisoning her husbands, but they were incensed that she had poisoned her son. Apparently the women were happy to see Daisy swing for that.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks for the comment. As far as I know there's no evidence that Syd was poisoned, but there IS evidence that she had poison that was intended for him. In any case, I think your grandfather would have been lucky. And, yes, the newspaper contemporary reports mention that the crowd outside the court was largely made up of women.

[@tonydacruz]

Good one Al. Enjoyable.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks Tony!

[@marclurie5574]

Thanks!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Hi Marc, thank you very much for your support!

[@astridstark3660]

Brilliant!!!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you very much!

[@monaliza3334]

Love to hear more about SA crime.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll try to add bits of information as I find them. You might like to take a look at my episode (part 2) about the Irish in SA which feaures some of the criminal gangs in early Johannesburg.

[@linf7954]

Had a book in the family about 'Ware Suid-Afrikaanse moord verhale'. Think Al should take us back to the Johannes v d Walt story too

[@craigadams2190]

Thanks

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Hi Craig, thanks very much for your support! I really appreciate it.

[@louisecoetzee9488]

I know exactly where Daizy de Melker lived in Germiston! My father showed it to me as a young girl. I doubt that the house still exists. At that time it was already old and neglected .

[@doloresbyrne6838]

Agree with you, I am sure it is not there anymore, as the squatter kamp was almost next door last time I went passed there. And it looked very delabitated then, and that was years ago. Have you always stayed in Primrose and what is your name.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

That's a detail that I couldn't find anywhere! Would love to hear more about it. Please feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@louisecoetzee9488]

@@doloresbyrne6838 Grew up in Primrose, went by the names of Charlotte / Louise.

[@charlkriek4863]

I had been an admirer of Daisy de Melcker since I first learned about her at the Police Museum. I was 7 at the time

[@WandaRoux]

❤

[@JustOfftheHighway]

I would find it hard to admire her, but she certainly was one tough woman.

[@estelle4319]

Well told.rsa

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you!

[@rolandoscar1696]

Flush with cash...😂 Stop pulling my chain

[@JustOfftheHighway]

😅

[@doloresbyrne6838]

I was told that my grandfather Jame🎉s Hilditch was involved in her arrest he was stationed at Germistn Police Station, he was in the mounted police. I can also show you where she stayed in between Primrose and Germiston.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Exciting bit of family history! Please feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@Jay-Leigh863]

I often looked at that photo of Daisy de Melker and wondered how desperate could men be to have fallen for her. Then I discovered other photos of her, such as the one on the day she was arrested, and she was actually an attractive woman. The photo of her which is the most widely used was taken toward the end of her time in prison before she was executed. She had clearly lost all hope and given up. Normally that would have me feeling sorry for a person but in her case I think of the children she murdered and her callous disregard for the men, including her own son, that she literally stood and watched die. All for money. Her demise was a lot less painful.

[@JustOfftheHighway]

I agree. I went through a similar thought process. BTW, there's a pic that is often claimed to be of her in her wedding dress, but is actually of an actress who played the role in a movie.

[@GoostTube]

Please can you tell us the story of Bubbles Schroeder

[@rhonasolomon804]

👻👻👻

[@JustOfftheHighway]

I've only recently heard that one. Not sure what I can add, but I'm looking into it. Thanks.

[@GoostTube]

@@JustOfftheHighway You can tell the story the same way you told the Daisy story, drive your car to each location telling the story. Everyone has heard the Daisy story but the Bubbles story is not as well known and its an interesting story and I am sure you will tell the story in such a way as to make it very interesting.

[@fistazmixwell]

Daisy crawled so Rosemary could walk.

[@Macedonia270]

Nice Corona!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

It is. Thank you.

[@Macedonia270]

@@JustOfftheHighway I love the Japanese classics...

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Yes, a good combination of the classic feel and still a reliable drive.

[@ljtheman7875]

Do you drive a cortina or a corola , Al?

[@JustOfftheHighway]

It's a 1972 Toyota Corona.

[@eternalproductions]

Heisenberg

[@ceceliagrgin8324]

She has descendants??? How?!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/foC1fZ99r5Z9edk

[@sandraa3550]

How could there be descendants of Daisy when she killed all her children?

[@wenamaartens866]

I missed much of the narrative because of the invasive music

[@JustOfftheHighway]

I doubt it. The levels are carefully balanced. I do accept that some people would prefer less music, but that's a stylistic choice I make on my channel. If you experience similar difficulties again, feel free to activate the CC button at the bottom right of the video.

[@leonehlers7241]

Thanks!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Once again, thank you!

[@brown1sully]

Thanks

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Very kind of you. Thanks!

[@leonehlers7241]

Thanks!

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thank you so much for your generous contributions, Leon!

[@leonehlers7241]

​@@JustOfftheHighway❤

[@wilhelmtheunissen4187]

Thanks

[@JustOfftheHighway]

Thanks very much for your support! Glad you're enjoying Just Off the Highway.