“Our show on Sunday features an investigation into a security company with a sinister reputation. It’s an insert that airs at a time the security industry is under threat from proposed legislation some view as overly draconian. Sadly, the shocking allegations coming out of an otherwise quiet corner of the Eastern Cape do the industry a disservice and deal another painful blow to law enforcement.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Return to Knysna
Once the jewel of the Garden Route, now on a knife edge. Governance failures, infrastructure collapse and political infighting have brought Knysna to the brink of disaster. In June, the provincial government initiated a process that could lead to the dissolution of the municipal council. But opinions are divided over what’s best for the town. Some residents say the current mayor is turning things around and needs more time, while others claim there’s no hope under this council. The DA, official opposition, is in favour of the dissolution; the rest of the council has threatened to bring an interdict to prevent it. It’s a critical moment and a test case for dysfunctional municipalities. Will placing Knysna under administration be a lifeline, or a last resort too long delayed?
Producer: Catherine Rice | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Watch Again: Knysna’s Collapse (2024)
Knysna, once the jewel of the Garden Route, is on the brink of collapse. Years of mismanagement, poor service delivery and a failing municipal council have torn at the fabric of what was once a seaside haven. But it’s not just on the streets that the crisis is visible: The Knysna estuary, the most biodiverse in the country, is now under serious threat from the failure of water treatment in the adjacent town. While the rot set in some time ago, a change in the local administration to an ANC-led multi-party coalition appears to have accelerated the town’s decline over the past year. As Knysna faces bankruptcy, Carte Blanche investigates what caused the downfall of one of the country’s most celebrated tourist destinations.
Park Capture
Is a contentious proposal threatening Johannesburg’s iconic green spaces? From Marks Park to Melville Koppies: they’re treasured recreation areas forming a vital green corridor through the city. Now, the City is reviewing the leases that govern these spaces – and residents fear it could open the door to selling off their beloved parks. Lease holders say they’ve invested millions for the benefit of the public, only to be targeted. Ward councillors warn that a constitutional right is under threat. Some political parties claim this land could be better used for affordable housing. Meanwhile, the City says it’s merely claiming much-needed revenue. What does the future hold for Johannesburg’s scarce and embattled green spaces?
Producer: Sasha Schwendenwein | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
WATCH AGAIN: Hot Property (2023)
Johannesburg is in hot water again: this time, it involves over 30,000 properties managed by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). A powerful group, including politicians, has been exploiting the city’s properties through a patronage network. Whistleblowers have flagged corruption and political interference, claiming that these properties have been turned into a feeding trough for the corrupt. Those who have challenged JPC management and financials – including the entire former board – have been swiftly ousted. Have investigations by the Special Investigating Unit and others yielded any results or brought any accountability? Carte Blanche investigates key figures in this network and the politicians who protect them.
Small Town: Napier
A village with a history as unusual as its present-day inhabitants. Napier was founded on the grounds of a bitter dispute between two prominent neighbours over where to build the community church. The conflict was never resolved: to this day, it’s the source of playful rivalry between descendants of the two families in Napier and its neighbouring church town, Bredasdorp. And this long history is just the first of Napier’s charms. From a unique pipe organ and its dedicated organist, to a retired revolutionary rock star; Carte Blanche gets a taste of what this tiny town has to offer.
Producer: Catherine Rice | Presenter: Erin Bates
Secured
Armed guards stationed on walking trails. The body of a missing man found on a rubbish dump. A local resident partially paralysed by crossfire. Is this private security company operating as paramilitary force? A company hired to secure plantations in the Eastern Cape is allegedly using strongarm tactics to restrict access to forest hiking trails. Worse still: in a nearby town, its guards are accused of assault and even murder. Tourism is declining and locals live in fear of aggression and assault. Despite stringent regulations governing private security operations, these guards appear to be a law unto themselves.
Producer: Harri Vithi | Presenter: Erin Bates
Sacred Conflict
For centuries, a spiritual war has raged between Christianity and African spirituality. Christianity branded traditional beliefs as “witchcraft” – a battle that still echoes in today’s classrooms where children hear voices that science can’t explain. But last year, South Africa’s Catholic schools quietly launched a first-of-its-kind policy to support learners experiencing the ancestral call to become sangomas. The guidelines seek to balance child safety, cultural respect, and Catholic doctrine. But will this policy reconcile the division, or ignite it?
Producer: Matuba Mahlatjie | Presenter: Govan Whittles
NOW STREAMING
Deadly Deliverance
This isn’t the first time we’ve reported on rehab gone wrong. People seeking help with addiction are all too often taken advantage of by self-proclaimed healers. Some claim to operate on spiritual principals but wield much darker methods behind closed doors. And that’s what we investigate in this story. In this coastal rehab centre, addiction is seen as sin. And the solution? Allegedly, isolation, forced labour and physical punishment. We headed to KZN to meet the families paying the cost of believing the Tetelestai Recovery Centre’s promises. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
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