“You can imagine our team’s surprise when served with court papers claiming we’d called someone a ‘convicted fraudster’ when, in fact, she wasn’t. Nonetheless, we spent a frenzied 48 hours helping our lawyers compile a defence of our claim and preparing for a court appearance in Cape Town. But, just days before the High Court showdown, she withdrew the action. On Sunday, we try to figure out why.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
A Clean Sheet?
Shauwn Mkhize is a flamboyant, high-flying businesswoman and soccer boss from KwaZulu-Natal who was once at the centre of allegations of fraud and tax evasion. Mkhize secured much of her wealth from multiple government tenders to build low-cost housing in the province. Despite being found guilty of fraud in 2005, she doesn’t take kindly to being called a convicted fraudster – something Carte Blanche did in a previous episode. In February this year, we investigated Msunduzi Municipality’s multi-million rand sponsorship of Mkhize’s PSL football club, Royal AM. Days later, Mkhize filed court papers, saying the label “convicted fraudster” was false and defamatory and insisting her record is clean. But, right after our legal papers had been filed, she withdrew the case. Now, in an explosive interview with Govan Whittles, the soccer boss and tenderpreneur pushes back against our claims.
Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Govan Whittles
In Search of Home
In Linden – a small Johannesburg suburb – Clement Tebruggo has become a familiar figure. He often spends his days queuing at a nearby church for a plate of food. Linden is one of the few communities that offers sanctuary to homeless people, providing them with a place of safety and regular meals. Hundreds of people who find themselves living on handouts now flock to this neighbourhood and, for some residents, it’s a major problem. In surrounding suburbs, the influx of homeless people has seen a rise in crime and sometimes abandoned buildings are taken over and transformed into informal settlements. As the numbers spike throughout the country, Carte Blanche asks how the challenge of homelessness should be confronted.
Producer: Julian Sun | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
STUDIO DISCUSSION
Hunting with the Hawks
An agent goes deep undercover to stop an international syndicate dealing in illicit rhino horn. A new book reveals chilling investigations and the untold stories of South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit: the Hawks.
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
It’s Been a Stormy Week
Devastating storms in the Western Cape have us worried about what the future holds. A nation left vulnerable – we look at the dire state of our military. Then, how one man is saving lives – one box of medication at a time. And the so-called Hardest Geezer does the unimaginable. But first, it’s been a busy week for the IEC as not one but two major court judgments had everyone buzzing.
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.
Elections Unpacked with Keamogetswe Seipato
With just over two months to go before South Africans are set to make their mark, Masa Kekana sits down with My Vote Counts campaigner, Keamogetswe Seipato, to find out why this election feels so different. What’s truly at stake? Who has the most to lose? And why the youth hold the power to change it all.
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.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
The Business of Birth
Midwives are meant to provide a safe birthing option for moms with healthy pregnancies. But some are not. We investigate whether rogue midwives are risking lives in their pursuit of profit.
Benny and the Fossils
It started with a young boy playing drums on the strange rocks on his favourite Wild Coast beach. Back then, Benny Mbotho didn’t realise that his playground was a series of unique fossil beds along the shore. But thanks to his grandmother, and her love of the beach and its fossils, he began to see this coastline from a new perspective. Right in front of him were the remnants of shark teeth, giant clams and petrified tree trunks from a time long forgotten: the age of the dinosaurs. And for the past five decades, Benny has been guarding these treasures for future generations.
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