Owl Arcana 🇿🇦

Yoh! One farmer we spoke to ended up giving a lock and key to cigarette smugglers so they would stop cutting his fences while crossing his farm. Authorities simply don't have the manpower to deal with this. #CarteBlanche

Near Beitbridge border post lies an abandoned 5000-hectare farm with a 12-bedroom hunting lodge. Nine months ago, the owner was forced off his R40-million property by a cigarette smuggling syndicate. #CarteBlanche

A thousand packs of cigarettes are carried by a smuggler in one run, contained into master cases. At roughly R26 tax each, that’s a minimum of R26 000 in lost revenue for the state every time a carrier does a drop-off. #CarteBlanche

The real cost of illicit cigarette smuggling? Roughly R20 billion in tax per year. Money that could've gone towards education, health and basic infrastructure. #CarteBlanche

This fish processing facility at Hout Bay Harbour was burnt down during a protest years ago. Fish factory owner Sean Walker's been begging government since 2018 to allow him to rebuild it... #CarteBlanche

For the past 15 years, the Department of Public Works - now headed by Minister @DeanMacpherson - has been promising to upgrade Hout Bay Harbour. To date, very little has been done. #CarteBlanche

Hout Bay Harbour is loved by tourists and locals. Is turning this historic fishing village into another high-end V&A Waterfront the answer to saving the harbourr #CarteBlanche

1️⃣ Yes
2️⃣ No
3️⃣ Unsure

📊 Show results

Selling alcohol flavouring isn't illegal. But the legality depends on what it's intended for. Leon Strydom sells flavours for Hennessy, Jameson and popular vodka brands and even gives advice on how to make counterfeit drinks. #CarteBlanche #SouthAfrica

COMING SOON: They come in their hundreds, day in and day out. Smugglers are hauling illegal cigarettes across the border, and it’s a war zone on the ground. That's #CarteBlanche every Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101, and on DStv Stream. #Crime #SouthAfrica #News

A Durban family is caught in alleged crossfire between police and suspected hijackers. But were there hijackers at all? #CarteBlanche investigates this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101, and on DStv Stream. #SouthAfrica #News #Crime

Bogus booze These days, there’s really nothing that can’t be counterfeited – from sneakers and T-shirts to handbags and cigarettes. Our shops are awash with fake products; a vast underground economy with links to organised crime. So, it’s not surprising that your favourite tipple can be faked too. But what you might not expect to hear is that counterfeit alcohol could be on the shelves at your local, suburban liquor store. For the full story, get DStv Stream Premium: https://bit.ly/DStv-Stream

From sneakers to cigarettes, counterfeits are everywhere - even your favourite drink. And counterfeit alcohol may be sitting on shelves at your local liquor store. #CarteBlanche investigates. Find the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up. #SouthAfrica #Cocktail

AFRICA UNSCRAMBLED OP-ED: Tanzania’s ruling party seeks to rid itself of the ‘troublesome’ Tundu Lissu

Tanzanian authorities have put opposition leader Tundu Lissu on trial for treason, a charge that carries the death penalty — but it is not the first time that the country’s apparatus of repression has tried to kill him.

The Joburg Property Company insists Marks Park and various other public green spaces are not for sale, their documents say otherwise. A day after this interview, the City withdrew its application. #CarteBlanche

At first glance, Napier looks like any small sleepy town in South Africa. But spend a bit of time here and you’ll find that it’s home to the unexpected. It’s the colourful characters who live here now who bring this town to life; like 71-year-old Roger Lucey. #CarteBlanche @ermbates.bsky.social

YouTube video by Carte Blanche Books galore! | Carte Blanche | M-Net

Books, books, & more books. Plenty of booksellers, too.
From Johannesburg, South Africa, a slice of the city's life that will surprise you & delight you. From the excellent @carteblanche.co.za. youtu.be/P4W9Y-1IhXs

Israel murders five Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, including Anas al-Sharif Al-Sharif was killed along with Mohammed Qreiqeh two cameramen and an assistant in an Israeli attack on Gaza City.

The deliberate killing of five Al Jazeera staff has brought the total number of journalists killed by Israel since the start of the war to 237, according to Gaza's Government Media Office.

🔴 LIVE updates:

This was such a huge victory for us! We cannot be silenced and this past week's precedent-setting judgment ensures no medical professional can gag media again. #CarteBlanche

SANDF: Open secrets revisited Nearly two years ago, we brought you a chilling story about an alleged rogue unit operating within the National Defence Force. Investigations suggested that highly trained, dangerous members of the Special Forces were operating above the law, involved in kidnapping, torture and even murder. Then, in June, news broke that several SANDF members - including Special Forces operatives - had been arrested. The State’s case appears to include elements revealed in our own investigation. It’s a story unfolding in real time, with widespread implications for the rule of law, the operation of secret armed forces in our country and vulnerable whistleblowers.For the full story, get DStv Stream Premium: https://bit.ly/DStv-Stream

Nearly two years after our exposé on rogue SANDF operatives, arrests have been made. The case echoes our findings and raises alarm over secret forces, rule of law, and whistleblower safety. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up. @opensecrets.org.za #CarteBlanche

Tennessee Woman Denied Prenatal Care Because She is Unmarried Tennessee is already the worst state for maternal mortality

The physician was able to deny care due to Tennessee's Medical Ethics Defence Act, which took effect in April. The law allows medical personnel to deny care based on their religious or moral beliefs. It is the first documented case of a woman being denied healthcare for being unwed in the country.

The South African lawyer that forced a US tech giant to disclose information about explicit content The attorney, author, and events speaker recently made headlines following a landmark ruling against Meta Platforms.

Sadleir recently made headlines for forcing WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram owner Meta Platforms to disclose the information of users posting explicit content of South African school children. #CarteBlanche #News

UPDATE | Nada-Jane’s killer now admits she drowned child in the bath | News24 In a shock twist, Amber Lee Hughes has now admitted to killing her ex’s four-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Challita.

In a shock twist, Amber Lee Hughes has now admitted to killing her ex’s four-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Challita. #SouthAfrica #News

A massive win for media freedom! Join #CarteBlanche this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101 as we finally bring you our investigation into a doctor alleged to be performing unnecessary, life-altering procedures on patients' hearts.

Is one doctor burdening healthy patients with unnecessary implants and a lifetime of complications? That's #CarteBlanche this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101, and on DStv Stream. #SouthAfrica #Health

From Washington’s burned letters to Trump’s missing transcripts, partial presidential records limit people’s full understanding of history A nation’s history is told by its records. The White House no longer publishing Trump’s full remarks makes this history less complete.

Trump’s second term is being documented without writing down the words..

The White House has pulled official transcripts, leaving future historians (and the public) in the dark.
buff.ly/WHnhrI0

#USPolitics #Trump #History

BREAKING: An Air India plane crashed at the airport in India's western city of Ahmedabad, television channels reported. The plane was headed to London's Gatwick airport. Follow Reuters live coverage: reut.rs/3TlgyUc

At a time when Europe is in a heightened state of alarm over what security agencies across the continent call Russia’s “hybrid war” of sabotage and espionage, Reuters found an emerging trend: Moscow is increasingly recruiting teenagers and complete novices.

Thousands of vital building plans lie in chaos at Joburg’s condemned Metro Centre, costing time, money and priceless history. Will the City of Joburg finally act or repeat past failures? That's #CarteBlanche this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101, and on DStv Stream. #SouthAfrica

A man is beaten to death. The man accused of his murder is no stranger to violence. We delve into a dark online culture that reaches dangerous extremes. That's #CarteBlanche this Sunday at 7pm on M-Net channel 101, and on DStv Stream. #SouthAfrica

YouTube video by Carte Blanche John Matambu Dercksen: The last cast| Carte Blanche | M-Net

Sodwana Bay, a top diving spot, was shaken last year by the disappearance of beloved fisherman John 'Matambu' Dercksen. What seemed to be an accident soon turned into a murder case. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up. #CarteBlanche