“I travelled to Goma via Rwanda for the first time in 1998. Laurent Kabila had ascended to the presidency of the DRC on the back of a breathtakingly rapid rebel offensive against Mobutu Sese Seko the year before. But no sooner had he taken office than another rebellion was launched from the east of the country over a falling-out with his erstwhile allies from Rwanda. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Now, I don’t profess to be an expert on the region, but I’m certain about one thing: there is little that happens in that tormented region that isn’t in some way shaped by the 1994 Rwandan genocide. And, dare I say, that includes the belligerence of the man who led the army that eventually stopped it.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Chaos on the Border
It happens without warning: Hundreds of cattle and sheep are driven out of farms in the dead of night by stock thieves operating along our border with Lesotho. The stolen livestock is moved quickly, leaving farmers helpless to act. Across the Telle River, dozens of undocumented foreign nationals try to cross into South Africa, their washed-up bodies often the only evidence of their failed attempts. Others smuggle high-value stolen vehicles into Lesotho to be sold on the black market. Carte Blanche investigates how lax border control in the Free State and Eastern Cape is fuelling criminality along the frontier with Lesotho.
Producer: Sinethemba Nogude | Presenter: Masa Kekana
DRC: A Time of Trouble
A diplomatic spat between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has set tongues wagging. At the centre of their dispute are the deaths of over a dozen SANDF soldiers during a military takeover of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s key city, Goma. The M23 rebel group, allegedly backed by Rwanda, took control of the city in an escalation of the decades-long conflict that has left hundreds of people dead or displaced. This week, Kagame denied any knowledge of his troops being active in the DRC, while vowing that Rwanda would continue to protect its own interests. Amid veiled threats, relations between South Africa and Rwanda remain tense. Now, as South Africa awaits the repatriation of its deceased and injured soldiers, Carte Blanche asks what the future holds for our influence in the region and whether it’s time for all the soldiers still deployed in the DRC to return home.
Producer: Hamilton Wende | Presenter: Govan Whittles
A Passion for Cricket
Imagine a cricket tournament that’s not just about the game. It’s a celebration and showcase of some of South Africa’s upcoming talent. This is SA20, our country’s top T20 cricket league. But it’s more than big hits and fireworks. It’s about people and their stories. Friends and teammates Codi Yusuf and Nqaba Peter talk about how their lives have changed, and former Proteas captain Graeme Smith reveals why the tournament’s success is no coincidence. From the fans to the players, we share stories from inside the SA20 tournament.
Producer: Floris Kotze | Presenter: Govan Whittles
NOW STREAMING
The Fight for Citizenship
They’re victims of legislation aimed at stripping dual citizens of their South African birthright – legislation already being challenged in court. Nickolaus Bauer meets some expats who’ve already lost their citizenship but are determined to keep fighting.
NEWS & VIEWS
Good Vibes with Carte Blanche
We’ve been offering you glimpses of what happens behind the scenes at Carte Blanche. Previously, it was the story behind our coverage of the invasion of Ukraine, and now we’re giving you a taste of what goes into some of our lighter stories. Yes, Carte Blanche may be best known for hard-hitting exposés, but we also love bringing you unique feel-good stories. Stories that aren’t just uplifting for our viewers, but for our presenters and crews as well.
To Ukraine and Back
Last year, our team visited Ukraine as the country continued its seemingly endless war with invading Russian forces. We spent time in Kyiv and surrounds and travelled to the now-defunct Chornobyl nuclear power plant, the scene of a devastating explosion in 1986. And amid the chaos, we met interesting people with fascinating – often tragic – stories to tell.
UPDATE: Stilfontein Tragedy
On Thursday, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) held a press briefing in which it accused government of “mass murder” and the “deliberate starvation and neglect” of several illegal miners at the Buffelsfontein Gold Mine in Stilfontein. The briefing comes after the organisation appointed an independent pathologist to determine the cause of death of at least 20 of the 87 miners recovered from shaft 11 last month.
According to the pathologist’s findings, all 20 autopsies “show clear evidence that starvation and dehydration were the primary causes of death”. Other conditions noted in the report include TB, pneumonia, bowel infections and severe immune system suppression.
MACUA described the miners’ deaths as “not natural” and “entirely preventable”, further adding that authorities “actively sabotaged the only available source of sustenance by blocking and damaging supplies from community rescue teams”.
On Tuesday, North West Health MEC Sello Lehari said the state had completed its own postmortems. However, the results were being withheld due to the ongoing police investigation.
In late-January, Govan Whittles spoke to authorities, human rights activists and community members. At the time, Acting North West Provincial Police Commissioner Maj Gen Patrick Asaneng denied withholding food and water, instead claiming that zama zama ringleaders were hoarding supplies. You can find the full story now on DStv Catch Up and the DStv Stream app.
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