@owlarcana
Editor at @carteblanche.co.za and relentless news junkie. Often staring at the ceiling at 3 in the morning. Owns two cats but wants to own them all. Perpetually playing catch-up on TV series from a decade ago.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
