“To be perfectly honest, I’ve written and re-written this week’s quote multiple times. I feel almost obliged to say something meaningful about the botched investigation into the Murray murders or the revelations around the dark side of gymnastics, but worry that my sentiments will ring hollow. In repeating my thoughts on the indifference of our criminal justice system, our government, our public office bearers, do I not risk sounding clichéd? So, I’ve decided, instead, to urge you to visit Uniondale. You may well encounter a ghost in the stillness of the Klein Karoo night but, as informed South Africans, that will be the least of your worries.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Justice Insulted
It’s been two years and eight months since the Saturday afternoon when Cloete Murray and his son Thomas were gunned down on the N1 highway near Midrand, Johannesburg. The father-son liquidator team were working on a string of high-profile and controversial cases when they were targeted. Thirty-two months later, despite promises from top cops, a series of blunders has meant that no arrests have been made. It’s a story that reveals deep flaws in our criminal justice system and tracks the healing of a shattered family seeking justice and closure. Carte Blanche unravels the anatomy of an investigation gone wrong.
Producer: Joy Summers | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Medals Before Children
It appears to be a deeply ingrained culture: coaches accused of abuse, while the organisation meant to protect young athletes allegedly suppresses the truth. Last year, Carte Blanche investigated a gymnastics coach accused of physically, emotionally and sexually assaulting gymnasts for over a decade. Gymnastics South Africa vehemently denied allegations that it had covered up the allegations. But now, an insider has come forward to talk about systemic suppression and silence within the sport. Is a national sports body ignoring its own policies while young athletes suffer?
Producer & Presenter: Tarryn Crossman
WATCH AGAIN: A Predator’s Grip (2024)
Derek Bezuidenhout was a gymnastics coach popular with his colleagues and students. But for ten years, Bezuidenhout allegedly physically, sexually and emotionally abused multiple gymnasts at a club in the Free State. When his alleged crimes were uncovered, he took his own life. Red flags about Bezuidenhout’s conduct started early in his career but no one believed the children, and the club failed to investigate the allegations. Now, several of Bezuidenhout’s victims are speaking out about the predator who groomed and targeted them for years while the club and the Gymnastics Federation allegedly stood idle. Carte Blanche investigates why Bezuidenhout’s alleged abuse was permitted to continue for so long.
Small Town: Uniondale
It looks like any other sleepy farming town, but beneath the postcard charm lies a folk tale that refuses to die. In 1968, a young woman was killed in a car crash just outside Uniondale. Since then, travellers swear she still appears – a polite hitchhiker in white who vanishes mid-ride. The Uniondale Ghost has become the town’s claim to fame, and a reliable breadwinner. But there’s more to this Karoo dorpie than its ghost. This is a story about a small town reinventing itself to stay alive, finding a way to make haunting profitable, and straddling the fragile line between myth and memory.
Producer: Latashia Naidoo | Presenter: Masa Kekana
STREAMING NOW
Beeshoek: The Final Shift
Amid the continued economic squeeze, a growing number of people are heading to our cities in search of opportunities, dealing a fatal blow to many small towns. For years, agriculture and mining have been their lifeblood, but the pressure of rising energy costs and an uncertain global economy mean many are now facing a bleak future. This story is about just one of those towns, where the Beeshoek Mine has been at the heart of this community for generations. Govan travels to the Kalahari town of Postmasburg, and meets a community fighting for its future. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
NEWS & VIEWS
Trapped in Myanmar
In March this year, Carte Blanche revealed how criminal syndicates in Myanmar lured job seekers with promises of high-paying jobs in Southeast Asia. Victims, including nearly 40 South Africans, were trafficked into the KK Park complex (commonly referred to as the KK Compound) and forced to work in large-scale online fraud operations under harsh conditions.
This week, Myanmar’s military began demolishing the compound, which had become a notorious hub for scams targeting global victims. The demolition follows international pressure to dismantle these centres, but concerns remain about the safety and repatriation of those still trapped. Authorities have not confirmed how many foreign nationals are affected or what steps will follow to prevent similar operations.
Regional VJOY Awards: Western Cape
We are proud to announce multiple wins at the Regional Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards (Western Cape), recognising excellence in investigative journalism and storytelling.
Producer Marion Edmunds received two awards for her outstanding work on Contraception Question and Epic Electric Bike Trip. These achievements were made possible through the dedication of crew members Stenette Grosskopf, Eaton de Jongh and Dan Clayton.
Contraception Question is a groundbreaking investigation into the possible link between the widely used contraceptive injection Depo-Provera and the development of sphenoid wing meningiomas, invasive brain tumours that often go undetected for years. The story spans two continents, featuring patients who endured complex brain surgeries and uncovering new scientific evidence that has prompted legal action against manufacturers. In response to mounting concerns, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has recommended updating safety warnings on MPA-containing products.
Epic Electric Bike Trip chronicles a bold experiment by Stellenbosch University students and academics who transported a Kenyan-built electric motorbike from Nairobi to South Africa. With no charging stations along the route, the team engineered a mobile solar array to power the bike across six African countries. Their journey highlights the potential for electric mobility in Africa and showcases local innovation in a growing global industry.
Carte Blanche also congratulates producer Catherine Rice for earning a Commendation for her story e-Hailing Hell, which exposes the challenges and risks faced by passengers in South Africa’s e-hailing sector. She shares this recognition with crew members Govan Whittles, Floris Kotze and Greg Nelson.
These awards underscore Carte Blanche’s commitment to delivering impactful journalism that informs and inspires.
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