WORLD WIDE WEBB
“I remember well that afternoon in the stands at FNB Stadium: Bafana Bafana thumped Tunisia on their way to ultimately winning the Africa Cup of Nations. Those were better days for our men’s team, now a shadow of their former selves, unable to qualify for World Cups or win anything substantive. And as they’ve slipped into sporting oblivion, our national women’s team, Banyana Banyana, is filling the void. Surely, they deserve pay parity and a professional league in return.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Weaponizing the Police
Imagine getting arrested and sent to prison for something you didn’t do. That’s the horrifying fate of some remand detainees being held in South Africa’s most notorious maximum-security prisons. They say police are failing to properly investigate allegations before sending people to jail, with some landing behind bars after a single spurious complaint. For many, there’s no recourse. Are the police being used to settle personal scores? And could you be next? Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Joy Summers | Research: Laura Byrne | Presenter: Derek Watts
Marikana’s Long Shadow
This month marks ten years since the massacre at Marikana, where police shot and killed 34 striking miners. Despite the findings of an independent inquiry, no one within the police has been held accountable. Yet, evidence suggests police abuses didn’t end on the day of the shooting. In the weeks after the massacre, scores of miners were arrested, many claiming they were assaulted or tortured. Never-before-seen documents now reveal how police management unilaterally exonerated 77 officers implicated in these assaults and torture cases. Ten years on, there is every indication that the brutality at Marikana, and the lack of accountability that followed, is systemically rooted within the culture of the police service. No clearer is that demonstrated than in CCTV footage captured on the streets of New Germany north of Durban showing the premeditated killing of a defenceless suspect.
Producer: Daneel Knoetze | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Champions of Africa
Since her playing days, Desiree Ellis had always dreamt of lifting the coveted Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Banyana Banyana. But for years, the women’s national football side was a team largely ignored and unsupported. Later appointed the national women’s coach, Ellis kept trying until years of dedication and perseverance culminated in one spectacular night in July when Banyana Banyana finally were crowned the Champions of Africa! Now, the women’s game is gaining momentum the world over, evidenced by the record-breaking crowds at the recent European Championships in England. Could our African triumph herald a new dawn for women’s football in South Africa?
Producer: Diana Lucas | Research: Siniketiwe Hlanze | Presenter: Claire Mawisa
HEAR IT ALL
Sami Hall Says
Sami Hall grew up wanting to be a star. But she soon realised the road to fame isn’t always straightforward. As adulting pushed her dreams aside, she turned to TikTok to give her inner actress a voice. Little did she know this was exactly what would place her in the comedic spotlight.
The Night Shift
Even for the most highly trained emergency specialists in Mitchells Plain’s trauma centre, the caseload is becoming nearly unbearable. We’re given an all-access pass to see what happens behind the frontline on a Saturday evening.
Welcome to Funny Farm
There’s a market for everything at Funny Farm, an informal settlement in Alberton, Gauteng. Anything from drugs to weapons and, in some cases, even children, are for sale. We go inside this criminal cesspool.
WATCH IT AGAIN
Follow the Manganese Road
Poison hidden in plain sight: black manganese dust, blasted from the iconic Kalahari Basin and trucked to the port of Port Elizabeth in vast amounts. But could the manganese rush be making Nelson Mandela Bay and its people sick?
My Name is Reeva
How does one heal from the devastating loss of a child? The Oscar Pistorius trial centred on a hero’s fall from grace, with media from around the world dissecting every aspect of Reeva Steenkamp’s final moments. A 3-part documentary series My Name is Reeva seeks to centre Reeva in this tragedy and examines difficult concepts like retribution, redemption, and forgiveness. Masa Kekana met the producers.
Please note: Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change. Stories can be viewed at www.carteblanche.co.za
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