Coming Up On Carte Blanche – 14 April 2024

“Our story on private birthing centres resonates with me. My eldest daughter was born in an Irish hospital in the care of the most hapless and hopeless of obstetricians. Clearly stressed and overworked, he tried to induce labour 11 days after my wife’s due date. None of what he tried worked, and my daughter eventually arrived in this world via emergency caesarean. Thankfully, ours is a story with a happy ending. The ones told by the women featured in Sunday’s investigation are far more traumatic; far more tragic.” – John Webb, Executive Producer

The Business of Birth

It began as an investigation into one Gauteng midwife who was allegedly administering a dangerous drug to her patients to induce labour without their consent. The drug sped up the delivery, sending the unborn baby into distress; several newborns allegedly died in the process. But it seems she isn’t the only midwife playing recklessly with the lives of vulnerable pregnant women and their babies. Startling new evidence has revealed that some midwives at private home birthing centres are operating outside their scope of practice – possibly in the pursuit of profit. In some instances, midwives insist on delivering the baby even when it’s in distress, because sending the patient to a nearby hospital means losing money. Carte Blanche investigates.

Producer: Tarryn Crossman| Presenter: Masa Kekana

College Cop-out

Educor once stood as a monument of hope for thousands of students looking for an affordable and reputable education at a private college. With scores of campuses around the country, it was the largest private education supplier in Southern Africa and, for several years, it earned itself a good reputation. But in recent years, Educor has become notorious for poor quality education and non-compliance with government regulations. In February this year, the Department of Higher Education finally deregistered the company, sending students and educators into a spiral. Despite several deadline extensions, Educor had failed to submit crucial financial records and tax clearance certificates, leaving the Department with no choice but to shut it down. For many critics, this was a long time coming – but students are left in limbo.

Producer: Liz Fish | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard

Courageous Gwala

Mhlengi Gwala was an avid cyclist and a professional athlete. But one early morning in 2018, his entire life changed. Three assailants pulled him from his bicycle and attempted to saw off his leg with a chainsaw. They cut through meat and bone, leaving the limb barely attached to his body. Then, as suddenly as the attack began, his attackers disappeared into the darkness. Doctors managed to save his leg and Mhlengi bravely fought back to full recovery – only to lose his leg to infection two years later. Desperate to fulfil his dreams of becoming a champion triathlete, Mhlengi had to start all over again – this time, learning how to walk with one leg before he could swim, run and cycle. Now, he has set his sights on the Paris Paralympic Games later this year.

Producer: Chuma Kave | Presenter: Claire Mawisa

CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST

Eskom 2.0 and e-Tolls

As the inquiry into the deadly Usindiso building fire wraps up, survivors are running out of time. Another step closer to Eskom 2.0 – but will it solve our power problems? Then, several arrests in the Fort Hare University scandal exposes a deadly network of crime and corruption. And bye-bye e-tolls? Government says: we promise.

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Elections Unpacked: Herman Mashaba

Bring back the Scorpions! No more parole. Penal colonies in the Kalahari. And grand corruption will be declared a “crime against humanity”. Furthermore, the triple BEE model will be scrapped – but is a proposed replacement just BEE dressed up in a fancier name? Masa Kekana sits down with ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba to find out how the party hopes to achieve many of its lofty promises.

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COMING SOON

30 Years of Democracy: A Carte Blanche Documentary

We celebrate Freedom Day with the broadcast of a 90-minute Carte Blanche special, looking back at three decades of democracy in South Africa.

Watch the Trailer

Urban Spaces

Rising unemployment is pushing more people to seek refuge in city parks and on street corners. With the number of homeless people on the increase, a turf war between residents and the displaced intensifies.

Watch the Trailer

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Psychiatric Care in Shambles

Venomous snakes, no pillowcases or blankets, expired medication and no electricity or warm water… Meanwhile, officials purchased a R500 000 golf cart and a quad bike. Why is the Kimberley Mental Health Hospital falling apart and failing its patients? Carte Blanche investigates.

Full Story

Buffalo City’s Pricey Stoep

In the Eastern Cape, thousands suffer from severe malnutrition. It’s a condition that has led to the deaths of at least seven children in the province, and a crisis that requires significant funding and political will to resolve. But in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, home to one of the province’s biggest cities, the priority seems to be multi-million rand vanity projects that have become a financial drain on the municipality’s coffers. Despite being cash-strapped, the municipality established a development agency tasked with boosting tourism and economic development; an agency that is now cashing in on major projects funded by the municipality and its ratepayers. In East London, what should’ve been a world-class beachfront upgrade has disintegrated into nothing more than a glorified “stoep”, while the bill for the Waterworld Fun Park revamp has ballooned to an eye-watering R120 million. Carte Blanche investigates why an entity with a poor track record for delivery is still in business.