“SLAPP suits, as attempts to use the courts to silence journalists are known, are described as a ‘species of abuse of process’ by our own legal team. It seems to us, an apt turn of phrase. It’s a strategy we, too, have encountered of late, one sadly given impetus by pliant members of our own Fourth Estate happy to trumpet the conspiracies of people with much to lose and even more to hide. It’s why we publicly supported Karyn and amaBhungane in their recent legal struggles, and the reason we’re telling their story on Sunday.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Metro Match-Up
Johannesburg: poorly maintained, and with high crime levels, the once-thriving metropolis has become a dangerous and decaying city. Fed up residents are voting with their feet. Thousands have emigrated and many others have headed south to the Western Cape. For those in the pet and furniture removal business, it’s boom time. But not for the sellers of Johannesburg properties as the prices of beautiful homes tumble. The opposite is happening in the Cape as demand for properties outstrips supply and prices soar. As Gauteng politicians squabble, the Western Cape government is having to plan whole new cities just to accommodate the newcomers. But it’s not always greener on the other side… as we learn from an upwardly mobile Joburg couple who gave it all up and relocated to a farm on the outskirts of Montagu.
Producer: Joy Summers | Presenter: Masa Kekana & Erin Bates
Underground Astronauts
In the space industry, astronauts are vaunted as the ultimate explorers of the universe, rising far above the earth. But in the depths of the remote underground caves beneath the Cradle of Humankind, Dr Marina Elliot and Dr Keneiloe Molopyane are the extraordinary “Underground Astronauts,” embarking on a courageous quest to uncover and study hominid fossils that have remained undisturbed for centuries. Their mission is simple: to boldly go where few have ever dared to go. And to date, they’ve had great success. Their groundbreaking discoveries challenge conventional beliefs about our evolutionary journey and shed light on the remarkable species known as Homo naledi. Carte Blanche meets the courageous paleoanthropologists unearthing the human story long preserved in rock and bone.
Producer: Carol Albertyn Christie | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Pressing Issues
When former President Jacob Zuma accused senior state prosecutor Billy Downer of leaking confidential medical information to journalist Karyn Maughan, she couldn’t have imagined how severely it would impact her life. For several months, Zuma pursued a private prosecution of both, placing Maughan in the crosshairs of some of the former president’s staunchest supporters. In court, Downer and Maughan emerged victorious. But she endured such violent online vitriol that she was forced to retreat to her family home. As a journalist, she’s not alone. It seems South Africa’s judiciary is being used as a battleground to harass and intimidate journalists and prevent them from doing their work. Carte Blanche examines how media freedom is under attack.
Producer: Julian Sun | Presenter: Masa Kekana
The Magic of Mots
On the small screen, sports broadcaster Motshidisi Mohono is a commanding figure. Sharp witted, talented and knowledgeable, Mots – as she’s affectionately known – has solidified her place among the giants of rugby commentary and analysis. But it wasn’t always this way: this award-winning sportscaster’s navigation of live TV’s often unnerving terrain has taken years. Now, broadcasting to local and international audiences, she’s considered one of the industry’s leading lights. And, as sports fans prepare for next month’s Rugby World Cup, Mots has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who dares to follow their dreams. In the Springboks’ final home match before the tournament, Carte Blanche joined her pitchside.
Producer: Floris Kotze | Presenter: Claire Mawisa
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
Arrested Development
Putin won’t be attending the BRICS Summit, but SA’s Russia headache is far from over. Then, why did it take so long for Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit to get arrested?
Banyana Banyana: Road to Glory
Train harder, play with power and perseverance, show no mercy. They’ve been called SA’s beacon of hope, the pride of the nation. But what will it take for Banyana Banyana to win the upcoming World Cup?
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Macassar’s Dumping Ground
In May this year, a body was found on a beach in Macassar in the Western Cape. The victim, a young woman, had been brutally raped and murdered before being dumped in the sand. There were no witnesses, and over the next few days, three more bodies were discovered in this small community. But it wasn’t always like this: elderly residents who have lived in the once-peaceful fishing village their whole lives recall happier times. But in the past decade, conditions have deteriorated so dramatically that Macassar is no longer safe, with gangs from inside and outside the area roaming the streets. With the police apparently powerless to help, Macassar is under siege.
FULL INTERVIEW: Mzwanele Manyi
From former President Jacob Zuma’s parole and his medical treatment in Russia, to the establishment of the BRICS Bank, and the New World Order – Govan Whittles sits down with Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi for an hour-long conversation.
Shooting for Success
In a community overcome by drug abuse and teen pregnancy, one woman is using sports to bring change. Now, a battered netball court has become the building blocks for a better future.
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