“Goma in 1997 was a wretched place. Just four short years after the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda, it was awash with remnants of the Interahamwe who’d fled across the border. Meaning roughly ‘those who fight together’, it was the militia responsible for much of the killing in those few awful months. I was back there briefly 20 years later and there were signs of improvement. Now, with the embarrassing withdrawal of a much-vaunted regional force that included South African troops, one wonders if the people of Goma will ever know peace.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Knysna Divided
It’s a seemingly endless battle for the future of the Western Cape’s once-proud coastal gem. Knysna is in a decade-long spiral of political infighting and service delivery failure, which reached a head last month when the provincial government confirmed its intention to dissolve the municipal council and appoint an administrator. But the proposal was blocked by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Some residents believe the town has become a political football, and those living there are suffering the consequences. Now that attempts to place the town under administration have failed, will Knysna be left to an uncertain fate? Are political power and control at the heart of these developments? And what does the future hold for a tourist town desperate for funding to turn things around? We return to Knysna once more to give voice to the controversy.
Producer: Catherine Rice
The Battle of Goma
It was a deployment that ended in chaos. Early this year, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops participating in a SADC-funded mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo found themselves under attack by rebel forces. What resulted was hailed as a success by leadership. But those on the ground describe a humiliating defeat: by the time the SANDF surrendered, 14 lay dead and more than a hundred were injured. But that’s not all. For the first time, soldiers are sharing details of failures on every level from logistics to leadership. Stories of short rations, no medical supplies… And what happened to money allocated to risk pay? In a Carte Blanche exclusive, these men risk everything to tell their stories.
Producer: Graham Coetzer | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Hope and Tennis
In the shadow of the decaying Ellis Park precinct, one man is fighting a lonely but determined battle. Inner-city Joburg is a landscape marked by decay and neglect, nowhere more apparent than the tennis courts that once hosted international stars – now crumbling and forgotten. But a former teacher and lifelong tennis player has dedicated his life to breathing life back into these icons of our sporting culture. And he’s doing it by inviting a new generation to play. A grassroots movement shares the beauty and discipline of a beloved sport, and transforms a dilapidated space into a sanctuary for resilience, dignity and hope.
Producer: Sinethemba Nogude | Presenter: Claire Mawisa
NOW STREAMING
In Plain Sight
In July, an explosive press conference uncovered a nest of intrigue in our country’s law enforcement. Allegations of political interference in crime investigation, of connections between senior officials, lawmakers and powerful drug cartels. Of corruption on a vast scale. And one man emerged heroic: KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. But was the July press conference just another domino in an unfolding game? One in which you’re going to be told who and what to believe. It’s an atmosphere in which asking critical questions often results in a public backlash. But everything you’re about to hear is backed by documentary evidence and conversations with high-level sources. The overriding question is: in this flurry of suspensions and investigations, who is telling the truth? Watch this two-part investigation now on DStv Stream.
K9 Bond
Many of us can only hope to be the kind of people our dogs already think we are. But if your dog is a recognised hero who saves lives for a living, you’ve got some big shoes to fill. But that’s not a problem for the man we meet in this story. A dedicated member of a provincial K9 Unit, Sergeant Buyisile Makhosonke is every bit the hero his dog is. We travelled to Mthatha to meet this extraordinary duo. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream.
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