WORLD WIDE WEBB
“The first I read of the tragedy in Boksburg was via an online news report. ‘Nine people dead at the scene of a gas tanker explosion’. Shocked, I scrolled through social media for updates, some so graphic they made my stomach turn. A particular thread caught my eye; it suggested the death toll might double – perhaps triple – in the coming days. Third-degree burns, the author said, are rarely survivable. Now, all this time later, the death toll stands at 40. It’s a catastrophe hard to comprehend and yet, it seems, many of those lives could have been spared.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Boksburg Blast Investigation
It was early morning at the Tambo Memorial Hospital, still quiet for a Saturday. But the nursing staff were changing shifts, gearing up for the expected influx of trauma patients after Christmas Eve celebrations. Most residents in the Boksburg suburb of Plantation in Gauteng were likely still sleeping. As they slept, a liquefied petroleum gas tanker got stuck under a bridge – just a hundred odd metres from the hospital. Despite the hour, it still attracted curious onlookers. The tank was slowly leaking gas into the air – inevitable catastrophe moments away. The driver tried desperately to get people away from the truck while frantic calls for emergency assistance went unanswered. The fire department eventually arrived, but the police and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police didn’t show up until it was too late. Less than two hours after getting stuck, the tanker exploded, killing scores of people. Many more would succumb to their wounds later. Among the dead were workers from the Tambo Memorial Hospital. Could the tragedy have been avoided? Carte Blanche investigates those crucial minutes before the tanker exploded and discovers that lives could likely have been saved.
Producer: Hein Kaiser | Presenter: Claire Mawisa
Kannaland’s Civic Convicts
It’s a collection of dusty Karoo hamlets known for their picturesque beauty. But, as in many small towns around the country, the Kannaland Municipality is failing its residents. More shocking than the non-delivery of basic services is that the municipality is being run by convicted criminals. The halls of its municipal buildings are walked by two convicted child rapists and a fraudster, all wielding significant influence. Yes, Kannaland’s new Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Municipal Manager are all men with questionable pasts, their criminal records no hindrance to high office. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Latashia Naidoo | Presenter: Masa Kekana
The Art of Neglect
It was a flagrant heist: a man walks into a prestigious art gallery in broad daylight, removes a painting from its walls, dumps the frame, and then simply walks out. No one so much as raising an eyebrow. But what seemed a brazen act of criminality was actually an experiment aimed at testing the security at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Africa’s largest. It boasts thousands of works including pieces by Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Gerard Sekoto, Walter Battiss, William Kentridge, and Sydney Kumalo. The collection is valued at between R500 million and R1 billion, but the gallery is now a shadow of its former glory. Derelict, dilapidated and in total disrepair with empty exhibit halls, crumbling walls and closed-off areas. Carte Blanche exposes the rot.
Producer: Eugene Botha | Presenter: Bongani Bingwa
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
That’s a Wrap! This Monday 16 January on Carte Blanche: The Podcast
The South African news cycle can be dizzying at times. Whether it’s the latest developments in a political squabble, or fraud and corruption being brought to light at private and state entities – it’s tough to keep track of the latest happenings. Get your weekly serving of news, wrapped up neatly in The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick. Featuring Carte Blanche’s Masa Kekana and Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffajee, we help you digest the latest headlines while also delivering a glimmer of hope.
Becoming IronMac
EXCLUSIVE PRODUCER COMMENTARY! It’s gruelling, painful, exhilarating… How mounting the death toll among cyclists in hit-andrun accidents has spurred our very own Macfarlane Moleli to go above and beyond as he trains to compete in next year’s IRONMAN race.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Keyless Car Conundrum
Car-thieves-turned-hackers are targeting high-end keyless cars. It’s a sophisticated MO that’s effortlessly cracking advanced security systems. We unpack a well-orchestrated trend hitting South Africa.
[FROM THE ARCHIVES] Online Loan Scam
Struggling to make ends meet in the current economy, South Africans who have found themselves desperate enough to apply for certain online loans have stepped into a world of pain as they inadvertently end up in a debt spiral. Many have ended up paying for services they never asked for, through debit orders they had no idea they were authorising. It’s a nightmare that seemingly has no end. Carte Blanche confronts the National Consumer Commission about what their investigators have done to help stop the exploitation of down-on-their-luck consumers.
Please note: Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change. Stories can be viewed at www.carteblanche.co.za
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