“I believe it was Ghandi who said you can judge a society by how it treats its animals. Of course, he may have said nothing of the sort but, if he did, he would surely have been just as forthright about how societies treat their dead. In the case of Buffalo City Municipality, though, it would be unfair to judge an entire community against the moral bankruptcy of its public representatives.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Living on the Dead
At TB Lujiza Cemetery in East London in the Eastern Cape, Mbewukazi Ntungwa searches for her grandmother’s grave. Years of municipal mismanagement have violated the dignity of the dead and their relatives; overgrown vegetation and piles of rubbish make it difficult for families to find the tombstones of their departed loved ones. But even more shocking are the shacks and informal dwellings that have been built inside the cemetery, some of them directly above the remnants of headstones which mark the final resting place of the deceased. People living on the dead… In Buffalo City Municipality, derelict cemeteries are common. A few kilometres away, the lone headstone of political stalwart Alcott Skweyi Gwentshe lies in dense undergrowth, a startling monument to neglect. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Harri Vithi | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Waterberg Fires
The fire season was dramatic this year. In the Free State, an 80-year-old woman lost her life, while over 300 cattle and 600 sheep burned alive. Areas around Pretoria weren’t spared from the flames that wiped out scores of houses, while North West farmers are asking for aid after massive fires laid waste to parts of the Magaliesburg. In Limpopo, locals say they have never seen fires this fierce. In some places, gusting winds created runaway fires that spread at 30 kilometres an hour for up to eleven days. Last week, a couple stuck inside their blazing house frantically called family to say their last goodbyes… before escaping to safety, living to tell the tale. Carte Blanche headed to Limpopo for an aerial view of the devastating aftermath.
Producer & Presenter: Anina Peens
On a Wing and a Prayer
South African Jean Jacques Wallis is a brave man. With nothing more than a webbing-sleeved jumpsuit, gravity and the wind for support, Jean Jacques is the second-fastest wingsuit flyer in the world. In wingsuit flying, the pilot freefalls and can reach speeds up to 400 km per hour, getting meters off the ground before soaring up to eject a parachute. It’s a sport that’s regarded as extremely dangerous, only attempted by the most experienced skydivers and thrill seekers. Carte Blanche meets this extraordinary athlete.
Producer: Liz Fish | Presenter: Govan Whittles
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
Musical Chairs in Tshwane
Labour Department raids expose dodgy employers. Then, the Lusikisiki Massacre reignites the illegal firearms conversation… Later, the tenth of October is D-day for Durban as taps run dry. And a fascinating study on how viable a universal grant could be in South Africa. But first, the City of Tshwane finds itself rudderless once more as city mayor Cillier Brink is kicked from his mayoral seat. However, he might still make a triumphant return… Meanwhile, a few more candidates are waiting in the wings…
The Black Mermaid
The ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface, making it the largest living space on our planet. It’s a vast world, largely unexplored, and has the ability to both soothe and terrify. Embracing both these on a daily basis is Zandile Ndlovu, lovingly known by many as The Black Mermaid. Conservationist, activist, filmmaker, author, and South Africa’s first black female freediving instructor, Zandi has now added one more title to her long list of achievements – penguin warrior. We sit down with this formidable woman of the water to find out more about life under the sea, embracing fear, saving penguins, and changing lives.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Botmaskop: Scar on the Mountain
The Cape Winelands is experiencing a residential building boom. Driven in part by semigration, the area is as popular for new housing estates as it is for its Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. But, in Stellenbosch, one of the latest developments has some locals up in arms. Perched on a hill overlooking the town, it’s an exclusive estate with priceless views. But it’s a world away from what was originally planned for the site, raising questions about how it was approved.
Bulungula: Paradise Under Threat
The Wild Coast is a remote paradise that attracts tourists from around the world. It’s a rugged part of the country that is still overwhelmingly rural, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. But in recent months, this paradise has been haunted by violence. A wave of brutal attacks on residents has left the community reeling. Most recently, well-known community developers Dave Martin and his wife Rejane Woodroffe were violently attacked in their home, beaten up, and kidnapped by their assailants. The community is concerned that criminals from outside the area are infiltrating the once-peaceful villages… with a potentially devastating impact on tourism in the region.
Duma’s Last Home
On a private game reserve in Limpopo, an adult elephant gleefully takes his first step into a mud bath as a group of delighted observers cheers him on. It’s a taste of freedom for Duma the elephant, and a victory for the conservationists who have worked tirelessly to get this much-loved retiree into his new home. But Duma wasn’t always known by this name. For decades, he was Charley, spending much of his life as a circus performer before becoming the star attraction at the National Zoo in Pretoria. For the last three years, he has been the only elephant at the zoo. Now, after a nationwide petition to retire Charley, and months of meticulous planning, he has finally reached his new home.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Phala Phala Predicament
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirms it will not be prosecuting anyone in relation to the Phala Phala case. This after the NPA found there’s “no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution based on evidence contained in the docket”. In December 2022, Carte Blanche looked into the Phala Phala matter. It’s a story of great political intrigue: a disgraced former spy boss implicates a President who built his successes on a promise to end corruption. Revisit this story now.
Royal AM: Msunduzi’s Own Goal
In Pietermaritzburg, in the Msunduzi Local Municipality, rubbish lies uncollected on the streets for weeks at a time. In this once-bustling capital city, the putrid stench of urine hangs in the air: a disturbing sign of the city’s decay. Sewage leaks and water pipeline bursts have become common while the supply of electricity has reached a crisis point. The municipality owes Eskom millions, but its coffers are dry. So, why did the mayor sign a multi-million rand deal to sponsor a PSL football team for the next three years? It’s a decision that has residents and business owners outraged.
Shauwn Mkhize: 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. MaMkhize 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.
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