“And so, it has come to pass. The seminal elections many predicted have left a humbled ANC short of a majority but long on coalition options. Those who believe the markets should be ignored and the will of the people favoured (as if the two are indistinct) seem to favour an alliance with the EFF and IFP. I’m not sure one way or the other but you’ll note ANCEFFIFP contains the seven-letter word, Caffeine, which I suggest we’ll need in copious quantities in the next ten days.” -John Webb, Executive Producer
Licensed to Maim
Neurosurgery is a highly specialised medical discipline and with just a handful of neurosurgeons in South Africa, these doctors are part of an elite inner circle. So, when a high-powered international surgeon from the United States arrived in South Africa, many of his colleagues welcomed him into the fold. But not long after he started practising, alarm bells were raised about his work. In November last year, a 19-year-old underwent an operation to clip a blood clot in his brain. For an experienced neurosurgeon, this was a routine procedure. But for reasons that remain unclear, this surgeon allegedly clipped the main blood supply to the young patient’s brain. In an investigation spanning two continents, Carte Blanche investigates how a disgraced doctor from the US was permitted to yield a scalpel in operating theatres in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, endangering the lives of his patients.
Producer: Tarryn Crossman | Presenter: Govan Whittles
A Political Purge
The ANC has been the governing party in South Africa for 30 years – gaining majorities in each election since 1994. Until now. A poor record of service delivery, staggering unemployment, corruption, and rising crime have seen the ANC’s popularity wane. And in last month’s national election, its support plummeted to just over 40 per cent. The loss of faith in the ANC comes as former President Jacob Zuma capitalises on a surge of popularity for his MK Party, which has captured the hearts, minds and votes of the people of KwaZulu-Natal and, to a degree, Gauteng. It’s a catastrophic result for the humbled ANC which now forces it to consider governing nationally in coalition for the first time in its history. For the next ten days, critical discussions will happen behind closed doors while anxious South Africans await a result. Carte Blanche examines why this shift has happened, and how it might shape the future of governance in our country for the next five years.
Producer: Marion Edmunds | Presenter: Erin Bates
Rainbow Runner
It was a record that had stood firm for over 25 years – the fastest journey from Cape Town to Cairo on foot. But in July last year, Keith Boyd, a man who had never run more than a marathon in a single day, undertook the mammoth task of breaking this record. In a journey that wasn’t without major challenges, Keith ran over ten thousand kilometres across nine countries in Africa to inspire young people to vote for a better future. With nerves of steel and aching legs, Keith pushed through the pain to achieve this monumental feat.
Producer: Laura Byrne | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
The Coalition Game
South Africa officially enters a new political era. So, now what? Then, the IEC takes a battering as voters and some political parties say: we expected better. Later, we ask: what more needs to happen before the humanitarian crisis in Gaza gets the urgent attention it deserves? And a new medical trial could change the way we handle everything from dentistry to bone diseases. But first, it’s the big C-word many of us have been anticipating. As the IEC declares this year’s election results, coalition negotiations are already in high gear. And with Jacob Zuma’s MK Party kicking dust in the faces of many major political parties, the intricate coalition game is sure to deliver a few more surprises.
School Ties: Breaking the Code of Silence
South Africa’s education landscape faces a sobering reality. Alongside issues like bullying, substance abuse and vandalism, rampant sexual abuse and grooming add to the burden experienced by many schoolchildren. Many cases go unreported, but the statistics paint a clear picture of a trend that demands urgent attention. Having recently launched on Mnet Channel 101, a four-part documentary series called School Ties takes a sobering look at a culture of grooming and sexual abuse within some of the country’s most elite private schools. We’re joined by series producer Richard Gregory to find out more about Operation Nemo, a specialized police investigation into sports coaches targeting vulnerable students, and why school ties should serve as a wake-up call for parents and educators alike.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Elections 2024: Follow the Ballot
Have you ever wondered what happens to your ballot once you’ve marked your X? As South Africans hold their breath ahead of the IEC’s announcement of the election results, Carte Blanche follows a ballot’s journey from the moment of voting until it’s tallied in the final count at the National Results Operations Centre (ROC). In an election that’s been dubbed the most crucial since 1994, assuring South Africans that their votes are secret and secure, and that the sanctity of “free and fair” elections has been preserved, is the IEC’s top priority.
INTERVIEW: Elections Wrap with Keamogetswe Seipato
The votes have been captured and the results are in. For the first time, our country will be governed nationally by a coalition. But given recent controversy, there’s still a long road to travel. To discuss what lies ahead, we’re joined in studio by Keamogetswe Seipato from the NGO, My Vote Counts.
Biodiversity: A Wild Strategy
It’s a strategy that’s been in place since 2016. But in March this year, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment unveiled a revised strategy to harness our natural resources. It plans to aggressively exploit our biodiversity on a massive scale to create money and jobs. Some called it ambitious, while others sounded the alarm claiming the move to attract more international trophy hunters could make South Africa a pariah of the conservation world. Government’s plan also includes stimulating the domestic trade in ivory and rhino horn, creating health clinics and selling rhino horn to tourists from the Far East. But, if properly implemented, could the revised National Biodiversity Economy Strategy to commodify a range of wildlife and plants generate increased revenue and jobs for rural communities? Carte Blanche examines this growing controversy.
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