Up in Arms: Watch Carte Blanche, this Sunday 6 June 2021 at 19:00, only on M-Net
N E W S & A N A L Y S I S
Up in Arms
Do you own a firearm to defend yourself? The publication of the Draft Firearms Control Amendment Bill has been met with a social media firestorm and swift public outcry aimed at the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele. One of the most contentious proposals it contains, is that firearm owners will no longer be able to apply for a gun licence on the basis of self-defence. The bill makes it clear that government wants to reduce the number of firearms in circulation as part of its efforts to curb violent crime. Would it help, for instance, to protect women who live in fear of gender-based violence if the proposal succeeds? The government maintains the proposal is based on solid research and emotions run high on both sides. Carte Blanche investigates the hotly contested topic.
Producer: Graham Coetzer | Presenter: Bongani Bingwa
The Silent War
On the Mpumalanga Highveld, a silent war erupts every night as the community fights livestock theft and crime that has been spiralling out of control over the last few years. In April, a group of farmworkers protested – ostensibly for employment – at the entrance of the farm Pampoenkraal near Piet Retief. Two brothers, Mgcini and Zenzele Coka, joined the protest. When a scuffle between the protesters and a group of farmers broke out, the Coka brothers were killed and led to the arrest of four farmers and a farm worker who were released on bail three weeks later. At the end of May, another farmer and his entire farm management team were arrested on charges of murder. Court proceedings have been marked by crowds gathering outside. Carte Blanche investigates the underlying issues that led to the clash and asks: what lies behind the tensions that finally spilled over?
Producer: Anina Peens | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Derek Watts: “We’re swamped by State Capture exposés showing how billions have been drained from state coffers. But is big business in SA setting a good example? When the Steinhoff scandal exploded in 2017, around R21 billion in public funds were squandered. So far, no arrests have been made in the biggest corporate fraud case in South African history. Now, the battle for payouts begins. Could David beat Goliath and hold the kingpins accountable?”
The Steinhoff Swindle
It’s been three and a half years since the epic crash of retailing giant Steinhoff – the biggest corporate scandal in the country’s history that wiped more than R200 billion off the JSE. The company has admitted unlawful conduct, yet there have been no charges and no prosecutions. Currently, Steinhoff faces about 90 separate legal proceedings in claims that exceed R136 billion. Steinhoff has proposed a global settlement agreement, but some claimants are unhappy with it and are taking their battles to court. In the latest application, the founders of Tekkie Town want to liquidate the retailing giant in the hope of restoring some of what they have lost.
Producer: Joy Summers | Researcher: Tony Beamish | Presenter: Derek Watts
L I F E S T Y L E
The Future of Work
Across the world, COVID-19 lockdowns coincided with an explosion in the use of versatile digital communications technology, as people were forced to work from home. Some trend analysts now say remote work will become the norm and forever change the workplace. City centres globally are suffering from the so-called office wasteland effect with millions of square metres of office space standing empty – and South Africa is no different with the country now having the largest vacancy rates in history. What will become of the millions of empty square metres of office space? Voted one of the Best Places For Remote Working in 2021, Cape Town is positioning itself as the ideal workstation destination in the post-pandemic world of work – could this revive the tourism industry? Carte Blanche encounters out-of-the-box thinking that’s bringing life back to dying spaces as we examine the life of the new post-pandemic digital nomad.
Producer: Diana Lucas | Presenter: Derek Watts
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