“Hands up if you’d heard of Al Jama-ah before this year. I confess, prior to them becoming a type of mayoral conveyor belt in Johannesburg, I hadn’t heard of them either. Enormous credit, then, to the ANC, EFF, and Patriotic Alliance for recognising in this previously obscure political movement, with its dozens of supporters, a party overflowing with mayoral potential. Where, I ask, would this city be without their foresight?” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Eskom Files: The De Ruyter Interview
When Andre de Ruyter took office in 2019 as the newly minted CEO of Eskom, he was confident that he could help turn things around at the embattled national power utility. But after three years at the helm of one of the country’s most critical institutions, he threw in the towel. Amid a sensational “intelligence” report alleging deep corruption orchestrated by a politically connected coal mafia operating inside Eskom, De Ruyter took his leave. Now he’s in a secret location as the ANC seeks to serve papers on him for defamation. From his international hideout, De Ruyter speaks to Carte Blanche.
Producer: Joy Summers | Presenter: Bongani Bingwa
Of Parties and Puppets
Johannesburg is the economic hub of Gauteng. It’s a cosmopolitan metropolis that boasts the tallest building in the country; a symbol of wealth towering above Africa’s richest square mile. It should be the envy of every municipality. But poor service delivery, corruption and gross mismanagement have turned the City of Gold into neglected decay. And its troubles don’t end there… While Joburg falls into a state of disrepair, the elected political elite – entrusted with the care of the city – have been squabbling for power, leaving the municipality rudderless. Now, there’s a new, new sheriff in town – the third mayor in just the last five months. A man with virtually no digital footprint or discernible experience in running a multi-billion-rand municipal budget, Kabelo Gwamanda seems wholly out of his depth.
Producer: Harri Vithi | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Affinity Affront
He was a trusted member of the Jewish community, a well-known accountant, family man, and the father of a respected rabbi. So, when it was time to invest their hard-earned money, members of his community didn’t hesitate to put their faith in him when he offered what appeared to be a solid investment scheme. Within a few years, over 40 investors handed over close to R100 million, little knowing that their growing investments were just a front for an intricate Ponzi scheme which would ultimately leave them broke and in despair. Now, the scheming accountant has fled the country, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Sophia Phirippides | Presenter: Bongani Bingwa
Wheelchair Boxer
A hairdresser by day, a boxing champion in the making by night: Tony Toush Adebayo Adesanya is a man who won’t let life beat him down. Tony has had to use a wheelchair for most of his life after a battle with polio as a child left him with a severely weakened leg. But these challenges haven’t stopped him from becoming a competitive wheelchair sprinter, mid-distance contestant, and champion weightlifter. Now, he’s setting his sights on becoming South Africa’s first-ever wheelchair boxing champion.
Producer: Hamilton Wende | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
Show Us the Money!
What did the Electricity Minister tell Daily Maverick’s Ray Mahlaka? Then, the Life Esidimeni inquest continues and, frankly, affected families deserve so much better. And Masa Kekana is all about change – small change, that is…
Behind the Visor
It’s a dog-eat-dog industry: a race against the clock to deliver food to thousands of customers, and they’re just hoping to make it back home. We go behind the frontlines of the country’s growing army of food delivery bikers.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Deadly Encounters
Following an audacious prison escape, the charred remains found inside Thabo Bester’s cell have now been identified. We speak to Katlego Bereng’s heartbroken family as they try to come to terms with his brutal death.
Pandering to Putin
The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. As a signatory of the Rome Statute, South Africa is obliged to arrest Putin. We examine the potential fallout should Putin end up in cuffs.
Jagersfontein Disaster
Jagersfontein, a small town in the Free State, is home to the oldest open-pit diamond mine in South Africa. In this little-known community, Sunday mornings usually start slowly, but on 11 September, that changed. A dam, used to store waste from the Jagersfontein diamond mine, collapsed, triggering heavy flooding that left death and destruction in its wake. More than 70 people were injured, local farmers lost livestock, and at least 60 homes were damaged by the flood waters. But residents here say that the mine owners were warned on numerous occasions about the danger posed by this tailings dam. Carte Blanche investigates.
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