“As I recall, we first reported on the hijacking of buildings around 20 years ago. Back then, I was struck by the number and types of people involved in this criminal enterprise, including the shady lawyers willing to fight eviction applications lodged by frustrated landlords. Not much has changed on that front, although it appears the hijackers are less inclined to bother with the courts these days, preferring to settle disputes with violence.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Death in the Inner City
He wanted to fix crime in Joburg’s inner city; instead, he became its victim. Last month, media personality Warrick Stock, better known as DJ Warras, was shot dead in broad daylight in Johannesburg’s CBD. But what does his murder say about the long arm of organised crime in our economic capital? Stock was helping to develop a blueprint for intervention in the city’s hijacked building crisis… and it seems his work brought him into the firing line. As the story unfolds in court, Carte Blanche paints a picture of risk and threat, and asks: will anyone be held accountable for this tragic death?
Producer: Latashia Naidoo | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Flight to Banjul
A decade ago, a BMW collided with an elephant on a Limpopo highway. The totalled car belonged to a municipal official who had recently left his post under a cloud of allegations. And this accident is just one bizarre adventure in a tumultuous career. Today, the same official holds a powerful position in the province’s legislature – and it wasn’t long before accusations started to fly once more. But a vanity trip centred on a provincial delegation to North Africa leaves other scandals on the tarmac. An investigation into the rise, fall, and rise again of one controversial official.
Producer: Harri Vithi | Presenter: Govan Whittles
The Lighthouse Keeper
On a rugged stretch of the West Coast, one man keeps the light burning. At 52, Wayne Brown has spent most of his life serving the Cape Columbine lighthouse and the ships that rely on its light to navigate the rocky shore. Built in 1936, Cape Columbine is one of the last manned lighthouses on our coast. And for its keeper, manning the lighthouse is a calling. But he’s one of a dying breed: when Wayne retires, Cape Columbine will be automated. It’s a story of hope and endurance as one man stands guard over the lighthouse that has shaped his life.
Producer: Annalise Lubbe | Presenter: Erin Bates
STREAMING NOW
Politics of the Past
Bophuthatswana was granted independence in 1977 under Lucas Mangope. As one of the ten homelands, it was supposed to prove to the world that black people were governing themselves. Mangope built a thriving state, but his reign was mired in controversy. Now, more than three decades since Bophuthatswana was reincorporated into South Africa, his legacy continues to divide. Lourensa went on a road trip to find out more. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
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