I N V E S T I G A T I O N S
Killing Canines: The Parvovirus
From vomiting to diarrhoea, the canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads between dogs and if untreated, it can prove deadly. In Gauteng, police service dogs are bred and trained at a specialised K9 facility that’s been overwhelmed by an outbreak of CPV and this year, over 30 state-owned puppies have died from the infection. But it’s not the first time that this virus has spread through this training centre and in just eight months, almost 100 puppies have died. Gross incompetence or another under-resourced state facility? Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Derek Watts
VBS Bank
For years, VBS Mutual was the bank of choice for thousands of people in Limpopo. But behind closed doors, some bank employees and government officials were involved in an intricate inside job, siphoning off millions from the accounts of unsuspecting clients. Now, could the ongoing investigation by the Hawks and the NPA into the corruption and fraud that plagued the embattled bank, finally put the criminals responsible behind bars? Carte Blanche unravels how this trusted entity left so many destitute.
Producer: Sophia Phirippides | Research: Mosibudi Ratlebjane & Tony Beamish | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Cryptobot Investment Scheme Goes Haywire
With a Hawks investigation at a critical stage and criminal proceedings underway – Carte Blanche investigates why an apparent “fool-proof” cryptocurrency investment has crashed. Over 2000 investors fell for the promised returns on investments generated through an automated trading bot, programmed never trade to when the markets were down. But can so-called fail-safe algorithms ever guard against the risk of human error and greed?
Producer: Liz Fish | Presenter: Masa Kekana
OUT OF THIS WORLD
The New Race to the Moon
SpaceX's Crew Dragon Capsule has docked with the International Space Station and this week started a series of spacewalks to swap out ageing nickel-hydrogen batteries for smaller, efficient lithium-ion batteries. As Earth’s resources take strain, Carte Blanche examines what lies behind the efforts of private corporations to develop rockets to get to the moon. With rich deposits of water ice that can be turned into fuel for space missions – is the moon now fit for human settlement and as a waystation for space-travel?
Producer: Eugene Botha | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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