Law unto Themselves: Watch Carte Blanche, this Sunday 1 November 2020 at 19:00, only on M-Net 101.
I N V E S T I G A T I O N S
Sick City Spending
Lockdown had barely begun earlier this year when the City of Johannesburg began dishing out tenders for the procurement of personal protective equipment and other essential services on an emergency basis – at a dizzying rate. Now, Carte Blanche investigates the findings of a special internal audit undertaken by the City’s oversight bodies that reveals how the usual treasury rules were allegedly bent. The health and safety of the City’s staff and residents necessitated the speeding up of normal processes, but was COVID-19 just an excuse to spend or did ratepayers get bang for their buck?
Producer: Joy Summers
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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Law unto Themselves
Unfairly dismissed during the COVID-19 lockdown and at their lowest ebb, several clients desperate for legal assistance hired supposed law experts they found online to represent them at the CCMA. Located in high-end offices and sporting glossy advertisements, the business offers assistance on a contingency basis. Now, months later, the clients have lost everything. Carte Blanche investigates the ingenious modus operandi of so-called law experts that clients and former employees claim amounts to nothing more than an elaborate fraud preying on people who could least afford it.
Producer: Graham Coetzer
Researcher: Siniketiwe Hlanze
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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My Only Story: The Hunt for a Serial Paedophile
For copywriter Deon Wiggett, a single flashback triggered an avalanche of memories. What he remembered was how he was raped as a young boy by a journalist who ran a newspaper workshop at his school. Using social media to track down the alleged perpetrator, Wiggett criss-crossed the country to find the places where he knew the man had worked in a long career as teacher and journalist. Wiggett broadcast his findings in a serialised podcast, detailing the horror of his discoveries through his voice and art. The investigation culminated in a high-profile arrest and an ongoing trial, while the podcast won a prestigious international award. We recount his journey of discovery which also empowered other survivors to take back their lives.
Producer: Carol Albertyn
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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P R E S I D E N T I A L R A C E
Masa Kekana: “As the phrase goes: when the US sneezes the whole world catches a cold. Does the super-country still carry as much weight? As the world holds its breath, we find out how a Trump second term or Biden presidency could affect South Africa?”
US Election Fever – What’s in it for South Africa?
It’s one of the most hotly contested, rancorous and fractious elections in United States history. Incumbent Donald Trump versus insurgent Joe Biden. Breaking all early-voting records, millions of Americans have already voted by mail. Red and blue have never been more polarised. In a year where COVID-19 has made the world more of a global village than ever before, Carte Blanche examines what next week’s presidential election in the United States could mean. We speak to experts about possible implications for geopolitics in general and South Africa in particular – the US’ largest trade partner in Africa and the recipient of over $6 billion for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and TB.
Producer: Eugene Botha
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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Please note: Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change. Stories can be viewed at www.carteblanche.co.za
