Coming up on Carte Blanche‎ on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 01 December 2024 at 19:00

Kidnap Kingpins
Since 2022, foreign nationals – especially Ethiopian businessmen – have been targeted by kidnappers in the Eastern Cape. Now it’s become an all-out war. In Qonce (formerly King William’s Town), the community says at least two people are taken every week, with the kidnappers demanding ransom from their families. On the ground, informants and security experts say they’ve narrowed down the location of the kidnapping kingpins. They say that organised crime syndicates have taken root in the province and allege that police are involved. According to some insiders, these small-scale kidnappings provide much-needed capital for the syndicates to operate on a larger, more lucrative scale; targeting wealthy South African business owners. Carte Blanche investigates.

Producer: Tarryn Crossman
Presenter: Govan Whittles
Watch the Trailer

Surviving the Valencian Floods
In late October, South African mother-of-four Lindie Jackson was enjoying an ordinary day in her new home city, Valencia in Spain. Then torrential rains and flooding hit the coastal city. It would become the deadliest flood in modern Spanish history, killing more than 220 people. Within minutes of receiving the flood alert warning, the streets had become submerged in fast-flowing muddy water. In every street, cars piled on top of each other, pavements were completely ripped up and debris was everywhere. For people like Lindie, the unfolding disaster was terrifying. Now, she shares the harrowing details, revealing governance failures as extreme weather conditions continue to batter cities around the world.

Producer & Presenter: Nickolaus Bauer
Watch the Trailer

Joburg’s Literary Lottery
In Johannesburg’s inner city, there’s a wealth of knowledge waiting to be explored. Known as the Literary District, it’s the unlikely home to a treasure trove of books from some of the world’s best-known African and international authors. From one-of-a-kind collectables tucked away in the basement of the Rand Club, to second-hand paperback novels sold on the street – this area boasts more than 70 booksellers within an approximate one-kilometre radius. Former Agence France-Presse journalist Griffin Shea is one of them, and he has spent the past decade compiling a detailed map to help book lovers navigate the district. Carte Blanche explores the inner city’s surprising reading culture.

Producer: Jeannine Snyman & Stenette Grosskopf
Presenter: Masa Kekana
Watch the Trailer

Carte Blanche: The Podcast
Unique stories. Unique perspectives. Carte Blanche: The Podcast delves beneath the headlines into South African and global issues, bringing you the stories that matter. Like what you hear? Drop us a rating or review.

Want to listen to Carte Blanche: The Podcast on the go? You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many other major podcast platforms.

Join the conversation using #CarteBlanche on:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Website

Please note Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change.