Fall Through the Cracks
A tiny grave in the Klip Road Cemetery in Grassy Park outside Cape Town marks the failure of a system that was set up with the express purpose of detecting and preventing child abuse. So, has the country’s early warning system for child abuse broken down? In a powerful and in-depth investigation by journalism watchdog Viewfinder, produced for Carte Blanche, we map how impossible caseloads and poor investigations by social workers can lead to deadly consequences. Could the death of Baby CJ have been avoided? His family believe so, had their reports of abuse by his foster mother been investigated. So, what will it take for South Africa’s child protection policies to be implemented?
Producer: Daneel Knoetze, Viewfinder | Presenter: Derek Watts
Motoring On
At least 461 lives were lost and 87 people are still unaccounted for following the Durban floods in April that devastated homes and livelihoods. The deluge triggered some of the region’s worst mudslides and swept away people and infrastructure. The premises of the city’s leading car manufacturer, Toyota, was submerged under a meter of water and, as a result, at least 4000 cars in the lot would eventually be crushed. With thousands of cars exported to Europe each year, and its legendary double cab bakkies rolling into the local market each year, many were worried the multi-national car manufacturer would call it a day. But Toyota persisted, leaning on the expertise of the best engineers and performing hard manual labour with toothbrushes, hairdryers and leaf blowers. Thankfully, its Japanese partners also contributed eyewatering amounts of money to help with the recovery. Carte Blanche gets the inside view of an extraordinary clawback from devastation. Having almost reached the finish line, we ask: how did they do it?
Producer: Joy Summers | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Food for Thought
As if an economy hamstrung by poor governance and state capture isn’t enough, pandemic lockdowns caused nationwide hardship. Now, the Russia-Ukraine war has upended the global flow of food and fuel and South African consumers face the triple-blow of spiralling power, transport and food costs. Carte Blanche sees what a limited budget can buy as economists warn of a flurry of price hikes in the months to come – including food prices outpacing inflation. How will the affordability crisis impact on good nutrition? See how some viewers try to stretch their budget.
Producer: Sophia Phirippides | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Monkeypox: The Facts
With two cases at home, and a steady climb in the numbers across multiple continents, monkeypox is on scientists’ radars globally. But what do South Africans need to know and do about this new outbreak? The National Institute of Communicable Diseases says this is the largest monkeypox outbreak, and the first to hit multiple countries at once, with the total number of cases worldwide approaching 5000 since May 2022. Carte Blanche investigates the symptoms, disease progression and treatment of this virus.
Producer: Ayanda Charlie | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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