“Our story on the South Africans lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine points to a can of worms our government may wish was never opened. By law, the volunteers should be prosecuted for offering foreign military assistance, but doing so risks a political fallout for which the ANC surely has no appetite. Not when you consider who did the alleged luring.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Cunning Conman
Locked up but not shut down: almost a decade after we last exposed him, a master conman is still robbing farmers of their hard-earned cash and livestock. Times are tough for farmers: the economy and the climate have taken their toll, and farmers are putting livestock and land up for sale. A conman is exploiting their desperation, using stolen details and fake proof of payments. And it’s all orchestrated from inside prison… Carte Blanche speaks to his latest victims, traces his evolving modus operandi, and demands answers from the Minister of Correctional Services.
Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Zuma Recruits Return
They were persuaded by people they trusted to join a war on the other side of the world. Now, following presidential negotiations, a group of men have returned after months on the front line, wounded and traumatised by their experience of the bitter war between Russia and Ukraine. As they slip back into the country, the focus is shifting to the politically connected recruiters who hold the secrets to their misadventure. But not all the families are celebrating: one mother, persuaded to send her son to Russia for training, hasn’t heard from him in months. What has become of him? And behind the headlines, what will emerge as a criminal investigation grinds slowly on?
Producer: Marion Edmunds | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Book Hotel
Check into a hotel and wake up inside a story! In the quiet Free State town of Bethulie stands the Royal Hotel, better known as The House of Stories. A refuge and gathering place for more than a century, it served as headquarters for the British Army during the Boer War. Today, it’s been reborn as one of only five “book hotels” in the world. Hundreds of thousands of books line the walls in every room, vinyl records hum softly in the background, and history lingers in the creak of wooden floors. Step into a labyrinth of memory, where the past is lovingly preserved and stories refuse to die.
Producer: Jabulile Mbatha | Presenter: Claire Mawisa
STREAMING NOW
Bay of Broken Promises
This story began as an investigation into a questionable tender; an allegedly manufactured emergency, a rushed tender process, a company that seems not to have the ability to fulfil its mandate. And at the heart of it all, vulnerable animals whose wellbeing is now at risk. But as we investigated, the story evolved. We simply couldn’t ignore the signs of a metro in crisis, and it became clear that this single tender is just one illustration of widespread mismanagement. It seems it’s not only the animals of Nelson Mandela Bay that have been abandoned by those in charge. Find the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
Mowbray Maternity Angels
It’s a hospital that’s quietly stood between Cape Town’s Groote Schuur and the celebrated Red Cross Children’s Hospital for more than a century. And the Mowbray Maternity Hospital in Cape Town more than deserves its place alongside such distinguished neighbours. It’s an unassuming building – but it’s witness to small miracles every single day. And it’s staffed by people who rejoice at what they do. Learn more about this amazing team of healthcare workers now on DStv Stream.
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