Post-Blind Profile: Nikki van Niekerk

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟮 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. He was a man whose financial acumen impressed several hard-nosed businesspeople. Backed by references from a respected lawyer, he was a well-connected broker who could provide funds for big international projects... At least, that’s what he claimed on his LinkedIn profile. Using the business networking platform to contact brokers who acted on his behalf to secure clients, he lured people in with the promise of millions in investment funds. The only catch was the payment of an underwriting fee, refundable once the deal was finalised. But the refunds never materialised. The so-called LinkedIn Swindler duped 39 clients from around the world, vanishing with their money and unfulfilled promises of investment. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟮 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. Poaching has decimated our rhino population, a scourge that continues unabated despite concerted attempts by conservation groups and others to stem the tragic tide. Now, this threatened species has been given a lifeline: 2 000 semi-wild rhinos, once owned by a high-profile businessman and breeder, will be rewilded into reserves across the continent. It’s an audacious plan with significant risks, but the purchase of the world’s largest population of privately owned rhino could be a game-changer for these mammals. Can this ambitious conservation effort help secure a future for the white rhino? Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. South Africa’s friendship with Russia is a political football that temporarily came to rest last week. On Friday, the High Court confirmed that we’d be required to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes were he to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month. The Department of Justice has now requested a warrant of arrest, while the Presidency confirmed that Putin will attend the summit virtually. It’s a temporary solution to a diplomatic impasse – arrest a high-profile guest or refuse and violate international law – but the debate around Russia’s engagement in Africa is far from settled. Is modern Russia a colonial power bent on exploiting the continent, or does it remain the Soviet friend of its liberation movements? Carte Blanche examines this political quagmire. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟱 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. For years, Krasimir Kamenov had a fearsome reputation as a mobster on the streets of Bulgaria. But for over a decade, he was hiding out in Constantia, living the high life with his beauty queen wife and entourage while socialising with other ex-patriate Bulgarians. Now Kamenov is dead, brutally assassinated with his family and staff. The murders remain a mystery despite an ongoing police investigation. It seems Eastern European criminals have come to Cape Town to set up stations for drug trafficking and the exploitation of South Africa’s unprotected coastline, its porous ports and lacklustre policing. Much of this is happening in the leafy lanes of well-to-do suburbs where neighbours turn a blind eye to the comings and goings of glamourous foreigners. Carte Blanche investigates. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv