Coming up on Carte Blanche‎ on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 17 December 2023 at 19:00.

Lions in Laos
In September, a South African lion farmer sent a shipment of ten healthy lions to the East Asian country of Laos – a sale that raised the alarm for animal activists. In Laos, tigers have been hunted to extinction, but their body parts are still in high demand in traditional medicine and used in a fine wine. But with the supply in the tiger bone market shrinking, alternatives are being sought in South Africa. Activists believe that the shipment of lions was destined to be killed to feed the country’s growing tiger bone industry. It’s a complex story where lion bones are used to supplement the tiger bone market. But was the farmer aware that the shipment of lions would be killed in Laos? Carte Blanche investigates and what we find, suggests that these lions were deliberately sent to their deaths.

Producer: Sasha Schwendenwein
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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Backyard Gold
The crackdown on illegal miners, or so-called zama zamas, in Gauteng is heating up as investigators continue to apply pressure on smalltime syndicates. But the kingpins are moving on, approaching private landowners with financial offers they can’t refuse. The criminals rent a plot of land, then set up small refineries – complete with equipment and staff. Bags of gold-rich soil, dug up by zama zamas, are transported to these refineries, turning a simple backyard into a small mining operation. Carte Blanche investigates.

Producer: Kate Barry
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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Maintenance Misery
In a country where many children live with single parents, South Africa’s maintenance courts are in shambles. Across the country, these courts operate within a severely broken system that allegedly makes it difficult for single parents to get assistance. Most applicants are mothers desperate to get financial support to care for their children. But instead of help, they’re often met with a hostility from inefficient court officials. Many women allege that they’ve they had to open several cases with numerous officials because their files often disappear. Carte Blanche investigates.

Producer: Tebadi Mmotla
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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The Doyenne of Drama
For the past 35 years, Janice Honeyman has signalled the start of the festive season with her unforgettable pantomimes. It’s a genre all on its own; a feel-good formula where good always triumphs over evil. It has brought lightness and fun to South African families. But Honeyman has also produced and directed some of South Africa’s most groundbreaking theatre, too. The edgy musical Hair – long banned for its nude scenes and psychedelic undertones – and The Colour Purple with themes of humanity, decimation of human rights and darkness we all carry. It’s a celebration of a theatrical shapeshifter, an entertainer that, on the one hand, made us laugh and sing for decades while, at her opposite, made us think and explore ourselves.

Producer: Hein Kaiser
Presenter: Xola Ntshinga
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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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Please note Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change.