Nikki van Niekerk – ‘Seven Nation Army’

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In the Eastern Cape, thousands suffer from severe malnutrition. It’s a condition that has led to the deaths of at least seven children in the province, and a crisis that requires significant funding and political will to resolve. But in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, home to one of the province’s biggest cities, the priority seems to be multi-million rand vanity projects that have become a financial drain on the municipality’s coffers. Despite being cash-strapped, the municipality established a development agency tasked with boosting tourism and economic development; an agency that is now cashing in on major projects funded by the municipality and its ratepayers. In East London, what should’ve been a world-class beachfront upgrade has disintegrated into nothing more than a glorified “stoep”, while the bill for the Waterworld Fun Park revamp has ballooned to an eye-watering R120 million. Carte Blanche investigates why an entity with a poor track record for delivery is still in business. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

The Rugby World Cup Champions are home. In scenes reminiscent of the Springboks’ victorious return from the 2019 World Cup tournament in Japan, South Africans – loud and proud – rolled out the red carpet for our heroes at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday. Thousands of people, singing and dancing, celebrated the Boks’ triumph in lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a historic fourth time - only the second team ever to win back-to-back World Cup victories. Now, as skipper Siya Kolisi and his team continue their whirlwind tour with the coveted trophy, Carte Blanche examines how the Springboks have inspired a nation. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟲 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. In a quiet, isolated village in the Eastern Cape, nurses prepare for the day shift at a local clinic. Tholeni near Gcuwa in the Eastern Cape is one of the most impoverished villages in the area - unemployment is high and most families rely on grants for survival. But last year, even the government-sponsored social relief and food parcels couldn’t save seven children from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). The children died within three months of each other. Theirs are the tragic faces of an under-reported and existential crisis in the country’s poorest regions: kwashiorkor, a painful condition often affecting children starved of proper nutrition. In South Africa, among the two wealthiest countries on the continent, around 15 000 children required hospitalisation because of the condition. It’s a crisis of hunger that’s spread throughout the country and government seems powerless to respond. Carte Blanche investigates. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟯 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. She’s an ultimate competitor on the netball court. Playing centre and wing attack for the senior national side, Proteas captain Bongi Msomi is a fierce opponent. Now, she and her army of fourteen will take on the world’s toughest teams at the Netball World Cup, hoping to upset the odds and lift the trophy on home soil. Msomi is a veteran of the sport, having played in three previous World Cups. And having never won the tournament, she knows all too well the bitter taste of defeat. So, can Msomi and her teammates make history this time 'round? Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv