Coming up on Carte Blanche‎ on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 19 October 2025 at 19:00

Knysna Divided
It’s a seemingly endless battle for the future of the Western Cape’s once-proud coastal gem. Knysna is in a decade-long spiral of political infighting and service delivery failure, which reached a head last month when the provincial government confirmed its intention to dissolve the municipal council and appoint an administrator. But the proposal was blocked by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Some residents believe the town has become a political football, and those living there are suffering the consequences. Now that attempts to place the town under administration have failed, will Knysna be left to an uncertain fate? Are political power and control at the heart of these developments? And what does the future hold for a tourist town desperate for funding to turn things around? We return to Knysna once more to give voice to the controversy.

Producer: Catherine Rice
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The Battle of Goma
It was a deployment that ended in chaos. Early this year, South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops participating in a SADC-funded mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo found themselves under attack by rebel forces. What resulted was hailed as a success by leadership. But those on the ground describe a humiliating defeat: by the time the SANDF surrendered, 14 lay dead and more than a hundred were injured. But that’s not all. For the first time, soldiers are sharing details of failures on every level from logistics to leadership. Stories of short rations, no medical supplies… And what happened to money allocated to risk pay? In a Carte Blanche exclusive, these men risk everything to tell their stories.

Producer: Graham Coetzer
Presenter: Govan Whittles
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Hope and Tennis
In the shadow of the decaying Ellis Park precinct, one man is fighting a lonely but determined battle. Inner-city Joburg is a landscape marked by decay and neglect, nowhere more apparent than the tennis courts that once hosted international stars – now crumbling and forgotten. But a former teacher and lifelong tennis player has dedicated his life to breathing life back into these icons of our sporting culture. And he’s doing it by inviting a new generation to play. A grassroots movement shares the beauty and discipline of a beloved sport, and transforms a dilapidated space into a sanctuary for resilience, dignity and hope.

Producer: Sinethemba Nogude
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
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Carte Blanche: The Podcast

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