“It began as a hypothesis: What if the gas leak that caused the explosion in downtown Joburg earlier this year resulted from artisanal mining? It’s a question that might well be moot if the cause is something altogether less sinister. But a nagging suspicion remains. Is it possible that tens of thousands of zama zamas, steadily chipping away at the ground beneath the city, might one day cause catastrophic damage to its infrastructure? We went underground, into a dark, utterly alien world, in search of an answer.” ~ John Webb, Executive Producer
Israel-Hamas War
Last week’s sudden, deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel have been met by a declaration of war and near-relentless bombing of targets in Gaza by the Israeli military. It’s a conflict that once more threatens to engulf the region with the drums of war sounding across the border in Lebanon and heightened fighting talk from the government of Iran. Elsewhere, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations have erupted in several cities, including Johannesburg. And, as the U.S. sends a navy battlegroup bristling with the latest in military technology to the region, the world braces for a conflict that might yet spread beyond the middle east. Carte Blanche reflects on the week’s events and crosses to Tel Aviv for the latest.
Producer: Laura Byrne
Joburg Undermined
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 reveal 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 Johannesburg, Carte Blanche heads underground and emerges with a disturbing answer.
Producer: Hein Kaiser | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard
Unsung Hero
When East London’s Jono Kruger saw the grim reality of poverty early in his life, it changed him forever. Even before becoming a teacher, he founded an NGO to develop young people through sport. Last year, we told the story of what Jono and the pupils in his care managed to achieve through Sport for Lives, raising millions for schoolmates in need. Following our broadcast, a local benefactor stepped up to boost their mission. Now, boasting an additional 30 coaches, the organisation teaches literacy and sports in five schools every day. We celebrate a man who embodies the commitment not to turn away from suffering and instead pay every gain forward to drive personal and community transformation.
Producer: Tarryn Crossman | Presenter: Masa Kekana
WATCH AGAIN: Be a Good Sport
This story originally aired on 24 July 2022. It’s the great South African love story: the nation and their sport. At school, making the first team in any sport is a rite of passage and parents and teachers sacrifice everything for a win and prestige. But now, a new movement is taking root: From the boys of the Eastern Cape’s high-performance Selborne and Graeme Colleges, to the elite Hilton College and girls of St Anne’s in KwaZulu-Natal – pupils are going from athletes to activists. Harnessing the passion and commitment of sport for causes higher than their own advancement, Carte Blanche meets the exceptional young players who found a way to make the personal glory mean more and, ultimately, create a positive change in the world.
COMING SOON!
amaPanyaza
Peacekeepers, force multipliers, or a Premier’s private army? Hastily deployed with training still in progress and now accused of brutal assault. We investigate how Gauteng’s Crime Prevention Wardens might become a law unto themselves.
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
Ethical Dilemma
Two big findings by Parliament’s Ethics Committee have everyone riled up. A doping scandal of a different kind as government misses a crucial deadline. Has South Africa passed the point of no return as kidnappings and assassinations become the order of the day? Government places its bets on the Post Bank. And two South African teachers get recognised for their work in uplifting the youth.
Debrief: Stories About Children
Carte Blanche is known for telling hard-hitting, impactful stories. But some stories hit harder than others, most notably our stories on matters affecting children. Two recent investigations left Masa Kekana and Govan Whittles shaken – our exposé on suspended lawyer, Zuko Nonxuba, and an undercover investigation into Ikwezi Lokhusa Special School. Masa and Govan discuss the difficulties around telling these stories and how they deal with the emotional toll that follows.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
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?
Police Failures
It’s 2022. Two four-year-old girls are murdered just a few weeks apart. Their mothers are separated by province, but not grief. For the families of Tamia Botha in the Western Cape and Bokgabo Poo in Gauteng there has been no closure: the police haven’t arrested their killers. In Bokgabo’s case, the man last seen with her was acquitted in the Pretoria High Court last month. Tamia’s killer remains at large. In the most recent crime statistics, it was revealed that 293 children were murdered between April and June this year. That’s at least three children murdered every day. So, why are these cases not receiving the highest priority? Carte Blanche investigates.
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