Claire Mawisa is joining the weekly investigative magazine show Carte Blanche on M-Net (DStv 101) as a presenter, with the hire by Combined Artistic Productions raising eyebrows over her lack of investigative journalism experience.
Claire Mawisa (35), a former SABC1 continuity presenter, model, radio presenter and presenter of other SABC shows like One, joins the existing Sunday night show presenters' corps of Derek Watts, Devi Sankaree Govender, Bongani Bingwa and John Webb.
Claire Mawisa will make her first on-screen appearance on Carte Blanche this coming Sunday evening at 19:00 on M-Net in a story about a "forgotten" historical heritage site.
The addition of Claire Mawisa to Carte Blanche - a show renowned for its hard-hitting investigative stories - is surprising, given her lack of extensive investigative magazine experience, especially for and on television.
It appears that Combined Artistic Productions and M-Net made the hire in an attempt to draw younger viewers to the programme which perennially remains the most watched show on M-Net, as well as the most watched local show on M-Net's top 10 list.
"We're thrilled to add a new member to the team that will also draw a younger audience to our flagship programme," says Lani Lombard, M-Net's head of publicity in a statement on Friday, confirming the unofficial news which leaked on social media on Thursday.
"Claire Mawisa's energy, investigative skills and extensive experience in the media industry will complement the existing team's impeccable work," says Lani Lombard.
After leaving Kaya FM in 2014 where she was a radio presenter, Claire Mawisa has been running life skills workshops for women.
"I have grown up watching Carte Blanche, and it has always had a very high standard when it comes to telling the South African story in a honest and fearless way," says Claire Mawisa in the M-Net statement.
"It always evokes an emotion in the viewer, whether it is heart-wrenching, infuriating, amusing or uncomfortable, you can never accuse Carte Blanche of ever playing it safe".
