Coming up on Carte Blanche‎ on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 08 September 2024 at 19:00

Listeriosis Class Action
In 2017, South Africa was faced with the largest listeriosis outbreak in world history. By September 2018, this foodborne disease had killed more than two hundred people and left hundreds more in serious condition. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) investigated and traced the source of the outbreak to Enterprise polony, a popular ready-to-eat processed meat produced by Tiger Brands. The deadly listeriosis strain that caused the outbreak, ST6, was not found at any location or facility during the outbreak period except Tiger Brands’ Polokwane meat processing facility. A class action lawsuit saw listeriosis survivors demanding compensation from the consumer goods giant. But six years later, they have received nothing.

Producer: Kate Barry
Presenter: Govan Whittles
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Prep School Bully
In Pietermaritzburg, an all-boys preparatory school that prides itself on being a leading specialist institution has found itself mired in controversy. The headmaster stands accused of sexual harassment, bullying staff and verbally abusing schoolboys as young as seven. Many of his alleged victims say the principal is a seasoned bully, ruling through power and dominance, and accustomed to belittling both staff and students. But the embattled educator says he is a whistleblower raising real concerns about the governing body’s financial management of the school. The school has taken the matter to court, asking the Department of Education to suspend the headmaster – but at what cost?

Producer: Tarryn Crossman
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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Oom Frans and His Newspapers
In an antique building on the main street of Calvinia in the heart of the Hantam Karoo, 91-year-old Oom Frans Hugo shuffles from his desk to the large cardboard printouts on another table. He carefully cuts out a black-and-white photograph and sticks it just below the newspaper headline that he’s working on. This is the newsroom where, for decades, Oom Frans has been patiently producing three weekly newspapers: The Messenger, Die Noordwester and Die Owernuus. As the future of print news hangs in the balance, and the journalism profession faces an existential crisis, Oom Frans seems unaffected. Once a week, he sets off before daybreak to drive 1200 km in a single day, personally delivering his popular newspapers to readers across the region.

Producer: Anina Peens
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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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.

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