Exclusive: Q&A with ‘Carte Blanche’ presenter Masa Kekana

Carte Blanche presenter Masa Kekana opened up about her journey on the investigative journalism series in an exclusive interview with The South African during a set visit at Stark Studios in Randburg, Gauteng.

‘THE SOUTH AFRICAN’ VISITS ‘CARTE BLANCHE’

The South African had a front-row seat to a live episode of Carte Blanche. The set visit was hosted by M-Net at Stark Studios, based in Randburg, Gauteng. We got to take a tour around the studios, visiting the control rooms and the set where live links are shot everyday Sunday.

Carte Blanche began airing back in 1988 and broadcasts in the prime-time slot of 19:00 on Sundays on M-Net (DStv channel 101). The series is best known for their credibility in investigating stories of public interest.

“Carte Blanche covers a variety of subjects and prides itself on the diversity and depth of its stories. Stories range from investigations into abuse of the vulnerable, to the inspiring determination of South African sports personalities, both abled and disabled. Carte Blanche is also known to go undercover in tracking and arresting high profile criminals, or takes time out to explore the edges of existence,” according to M-Net.

Veteran investigative reporter Derek Watts, who passed away in August 2023, hosted the show alongside Ruda Landman since it’s first broadcast. Sadly, Landman left the show in 2007. While Watts was a co-anchor on the show for a total of 27 years, according to his Instagram biography.

The series is now hosted by a stellar line-up of presenters. These are:

• Claire Mawisa
• Erin Bates
• Masa Kekana
• Govan Whittles
• Lourensa Eckard
• Macfarlane Moleli

Q&A WITH MASA KEKANA

Masa Kekana sat down with The South African to dive into the details of her passion for the show.

How long have you been at Carte Blanche?

So, I have been at Carte Blanche since 2019, January. It is my fifth year now at Carte Blanche and before that I was at EWN as a political reporter. So, I came from a radio background reporting in the field, politics and also anchoring for 947.

What has your journey been like?

And then after I graduated, because I went back to school to complete my political science and history degrees. I thought I would like to try something else, try television and I tried my luck with Carte Blanche.  I had just passed with distinctions and I still have had years of experience obviously doing radio reporting. 

And then, I found myself a home here.

What was the most memorable story you have covered?

The one that I’m currently doing is always the most memorable. Because I immerse myself in whatever I’m working on currently. But in general, I must say the Zuko (Nonxuba) story about the dodgy lord lawyer from the Eastern Cape who was stealing from kids living with cerebral palsy. That without a doubt has been the most memorable story.

I will carry it all the way up until the grave because those people really touched me. You know, somebody who steals from only poor people like the most poor people, but also children. And then on top of that children with cerebral palsy. It’s despicable.

Because of the work that they saw Carte Blanche doing and how we covered the story gives me like all the solace that I need. To know that the regulator … after we did that conference and I had that tough interview with them,they started moving a little bit faster. And now have called that those kids come get that money that’s left over. Hundreds of millions gone, but it’s still just over R100 million left that they can still claim.

Take a look at the video below…