“Our lineups are a mix of investigative journalism, hard news, and features. The latter normally end the show, and we tend to seek out inspirational stories to fill that slot. While it’s important that we shine a light on all corners of society, we recognise the need for a little reminder that all is not doom and gloom. Chad Le Clos’s story, complex in its own right, does precisely that in an especially intense lineup.” ~ John Webb, Executive Producer
Operation Nemo
In a string of WhatsApp messages between a schoolteacher and a young boy, police investigator Colonel Heila Niemand found some startling evidence; vulnerable students were allegedly being sexually groomed by a person in a position of authority at one of the country’s most prestigious private boys’ schools. The text messages, voice notes and photos also revealed that several boys had fallen victim to predators at more than one elite school. The seasoned Organised Crime Unit investigator was confronted by sinister cases of inappropriate behaviour and sexual abuse by teachers and sports coaches. Now, the team behind Operation Nemo – a special task force investigating a network of paedophiles inside some elite private schools – is hoping to turn evidence into convictions.
Producer: Kate Barry | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Coal: Trojan Horses
Coal is a big money-spinner and a major attraction for criminals who continue to hone their thieving tactics. In Mpumalanga, syndicates up the ante with a brand-new scam: they’re infiltrating the legitimate market as subcontractors with the nefarious intention of robbing their unsuspecting “clients”. Put simply, criminals pose as legitimate coal transporters with the capacity to transport coal on behalf of their clients. Once inside, the bogus subcontractors collect thousands of tonnes of coal without the faintest intention of delivering it to its destination. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Comeback King
At the age of 19, Chad Le Clos did the unthinkable – at the 2012 London Olympics, he edged ahead of one of the world’s greatest swimmers, Michael Phelps, to win the 200-metre butterfly sprint and take home the gold medal. And he didn’t stop there… For eight years, he blazed a trail through the sporting world, becoming South Africa’s most decorated Olympian. Then, everything changed. At the Tokyo Olympics, Chad crashed out of the competition and into a downward spiral. Battling his own private demons, he struggled to regain his competitive edge. But he refused to give up. Spurred on by his supportive family and his coaching team, he’s now preparing for the this year’s Paris Olympics. And he’s more determined than ever before to regain his Olympic glory.
Producer: Sinethemba Nogude | Presenter: Xola Ntshinga
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
We Need to Talk About Zuma
Is Jacob Zuma an ANC problem or a South African problem? We discuss the former president’s comments against the ruling party in this week’s episode of The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick and why his suspension isn’t necessarily a win for a fractured ANC. Then, the dreaded Doomsday Clock should inspire us to change. And who’s funding your political party of choice?
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Yolande Maritz: Menacing Midwife
In 2020, Carte Blanche exposed a Pretoria-based midwife accused of using an extremely dangerous drug to speed up her patients’ deliveries without their consent. Five babies died and several others were left severely disabled. Yolande Maritz’s licence to practice was revoked. But four years later, she’s back. Now, practicing under a new name, our undercover investigation reveals how the disgraced midwife has continued to offer home births and has delivered at least one baby. It didn’t take long to catch her in the act.
Ngwelezana & Sebokeng: A Matter of Care
Having recently completed a Paediatric Burns Outpatient Department at Ngwelezana Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, the Carte Blanche Making a Difference (MAD) Trust stepped in to create a first-of-its-kind children’s trauma facility in its third project at Sebokeng Regional Hospital in Gauteng.
Lions in Laos
As the South African Predator Association gears up for a massive legal battle to prevent the closure of the captive lion farming industry, we revisit our recent investigation into how a number of lions landed up Laos…
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Nothing Optimal on Optimum
Optimum Mines, bought by the Guptas in 2016 in a controversial deal, has hardly been out of the headlines. The mine has been stripped and is in disarray, workers weren’t getting paid and there were reports of unsafe conditions underground. What’s gone wrong? In a frank interview, business rescue practitioner Louis Klopper reveals the machinations behind the scenes and how the Guptas are still trying to pull the strings of this Mpumalanga asset.
Optimum’s Helping Hand
Carte Blanche follows up on its explosive investigation into how state-owned power utility Eskom awarded a controversial coal supply contract to a Gupta-linked company.
The Steinhoff Swindle
The epic crash of retailing giant Steinhoff has been labelled the biggest corporate scandal in the country’s history that wiped more than R200 billion off the JSE. The company has admitted unlawful conduct, yet there have been few charges and even fewer prosecutions. In 2021, Steinhoff faced about 90 separate legal proceedings in claims that exceed R136 billion. Steinhoff had proposed a global settlement agreement, but some claimants were unhappy with it and opted to take their battles to court.
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