“It’s counterintuitive, at least for the less narcissistically inclined, for filmmakers to turn the camera on themselves. Ours is to tell other people’s stories, not our own. And yet, occasionally, we become the story – even fleetingly – and we’re compelled to reflect on how our own experiences coalesce with those of our case studies. Sunday’s Mountain Syndicate investigation is one such occasion.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Mountain Syndicate
It’s a chilling mix of extortion and manipulation. Around Soshanguve, children are disappearing into the clutches of a shadowy group allegedly posing as a traditional initiation school. For desperate parents receiving a ransom call, the group seems to be no more than a kidnapping syndicate. But why do police turn a blind eye, even when terrified parents plead for help? And why are some of the “rescued” children so detached, secretive and desperate to return to the bush? What’s really happening inside this so-called school?
Producer: Busisiwe Gumede-Chizhanje | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Death Behind Bars
In an overcrowded Cape Town prison, an awaiting trial inmate lies naked and severely beaten. Hours later, he’s declared dead. The official report: the alleged gangster died in a prison fight. But leaked information suggests the story may be far more sinister. What really happened that day? From horrific photos to reports of broken security cameras and attack dogs… Whispers swirl and more questions are raised than answers. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Marion Edmunds | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard
The Arts vs Diplomacy
Even as US President Donald Trump accused the South African government of white genocide in Washington, a very different encounter was taking place on home soil. South Africa-born US-based soprano Goitsemang Lehobye stepped onto a stage in Pretoria alongside the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra – and the music began. At a time of increasing American hostility towards immigrants, Lehobye is the embodiment of a polarised global environment – and a symbol of how music can bridge the divide. When politics falter, what might be possible if we let the music soar?
Producer: Matuba Mahlatjie | Presenter: Masa Kekana
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