The state of the festive address

Drawn to Cape Town to pursue their dreams, with promises of state-of-the-art creative training – a stepping stone to a new career. One of the biggest private higher education institutions has been deregistered by the Department of Education, crushing thousands of students’ hopes. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟳 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In the Northern Cape, government built what should’ve been a functional, modern, state-run mental healthcare facility. It was the long-awaited fulfilment of a promise to those in need of mental healthcare services in a province desperate for psychiatric facilities. But five years after it was finally opened, whistleblowers have come forward describing a facility that’s in urgent need of attention. And for once, a lack of funds isn’t the problem. Documents and images obtained by Carte Blanche show how the mismanagement of funds by the Northern Cape Department of Health and the hospital are eating away at the budget meant for vulnerable patients. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. It’s something few parents of children with severe disabilities ever discuss – at least not openly: the personal toll measured in stress and frustration. In some homes, the burden can become so isolating and depressing that parents sometimes keep children locked indoors for days at a time. In the Western Cape, state-sponsored Iris House Children’s Hospice provides a vital free service that gives parents much-needed respite from the pressures of raising children with disabilities. But it’s a service under threat. By the end of April, drastic budget cuts across various departments and provinces threaten to substantially reduce Iris House’s income. And it’s not the only NGO facing an existential crisis. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

It was meant to be a state-of-the-art mental health hospital in Kimberley – a much-needed resource in the Northern Cape. Now, three years after its completion, insiders say mental health services in the hospital haven’t improved. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv