“There was something about the coup d’état that unseated Joburg’s then mayor, Mpho Phalatse, that didn’t quite add up. The behind-the-scenes manoeuvring that resulted in an unlikely governing coalition was political hijinks of a special kind. It thrust to the helm of the city’s leadership a party few had ever heard of and a mayor fewer still. But to what end? Sunday’s story on the Johannesburg Property Company provides a clue.” ~ John Webb, Executive Producer
Hot Property
Johannesburg is in hot water again: this time, it involves over 30,000 properties managed by the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC). A powerful group, including politicians, has been exploiting the city’s properties through a patronage network. Whistleblowers have flagged corruption and political interference, claiming that these properties have been turned into a feeding trough for the corrupt. Those who have challenged JPC management and financials – including the entire former board – have been swiftly ousted. Have investigations by the Special Investigating Unit and others yielded any results or brought any accountability? Carte Blanche investigates key figures in this network and the politicians who protect them.
Producer: Joy Summers | Presenter: Govan Whittles
COMING SOON
Zama City
In the barren landscape of Joburg’s artisanal mining underworld, we explore the shafts and sewers where, slowly but surely, zama zamas are encroaching on the city’s critical infrastructure. From makeshift bush kitchens to perilous underground tunnels excavated in search of gold, we unveil the harsh reality of their lives. These illegal miners are eking out a living underneath the City of Gold. But at what cost, as environmental decay and armed violence take their toll on the city?
Producer: Hein Kaiser | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
We, the People Deserve Better
The recent Cape Town floods have us wondering just how prepared national government is for extreme weather events. Then, we look at how the ANC is failing the people of South Africa. And we reflect on the tragic lives of Zoleka and Winnie Mandela.
Rally Rookies
Fast cars, dirt roads and a passion for racing… Ordinarily, you wouldn’t associate this with a school. But one school in the Eastern Cape is helping students leave the classroom in the dust!
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Soccer’s Lost Legacy
A global event hosted with a promise of the glorious legacy that would put SA soccer on the map. But a decade on, the promises lay plundered. Who stole the country’s footballing hope?
Kannaland’s Civic Convicts
This story originally aired on 15 January 2023. 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.
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