Coming up on Carte Blanche on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 03 September 2023 at 19:00.
Egregious Failings
It was once a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the care of children with disabilities and a beacon of hope in the Eastern Cape. For decades, Ikwezi Lokusa was operated by missionary sisters. But in 2001, government took over and soon afterwards its troubles began. In 2018, Carte Blanche investigated the boarding school and uncovered how the infrastructure had deteriorated, leaving children to sleep on brick beds with only a thin mattress for comfort. A critical shortage of caregivers often left vulnerable special needs children with no one to feed them or change their nappies for hours on end. Back then, the Department of Education made big promises to help the children; but as we return to the school five years later, very little has changed. More caregivers have been employed, but they frequently abandon the children, who continue to suffer hardship and neglect. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Tarryn Crossman
Presenter: Govan Whittles
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The First Suspect
It has resonated across South Africa for years: the 2014 murder of Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa in his girlfriend’s house in Vosloorus. This week, the pathologist who examined Meyiwa’s lifeless body detailed the last moments of the popular soccer player’s life. But the shooting didn’t just end Meyiwa’s life: it forever changed the life of another young man from the community. Days after the brutal killing, police rounded up Zamo Mbatha, the first suspect in Meyiwa’s murder. Mbatha was detained for two weeks before the court abruptly ordered his release; police did not have enough evidence to link him to the case. But it was too late for Mbatha. With many still believing that he was Meyiwa’s killer, his life was altered. Ten years later, as five other men stand trial for Meyiwa’s murder, Mbatha’s multi-million rand lawsuit against the police has come to a standstill. Carte Blanche examines how his wrongful arrest as the first suspect shattered his world.
Producer: Ntokozo Sindane
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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Butterflies vs Cartels
In the forests of northeastern Michoacán state in Mexico, the migration of the monarch butterfly occurs each year. It’s a natural wonder which draws tourists from around the globe. But as drug cartels vie for control over the avocado trade, illegal forest clearance threatens the micro-climate on which the monarch butterflies depend. The cartels have been using violent means to establish control of the land, including kidnapping and extortion. But they aren’t the only threat to the butterflies: climate change and herbicide use are also responsible for the monarchs’ dwindling numbers. Now the fight to protect the butterfly forests is on, but can authorities win against the country’s drug cartels?
Producer: SBS Australia
Carte Blanche: The Podcast
Unique stories. Unique perspectives. Carte Blanche: The Podcast delves beneath the headlines into South African and global issues, bringing you the stories that matter. Like what you hear? Drop us a rating or review.
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Please note Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change.
