Coming up on Carte Blanche on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 25 August 2024 at 19:00
Cash for Days
On a long-distance bus from Pretoria to the Beitbridge border post, the conductor makes his passengers an irresistible offer: he can help them extend their stay in South Africa beyond the 90-day legal limit – for a small fee. Many of his passengers are undocumented foreign nationals who should be on their way back to Zimbabwe. Instead, they’ll pay the fee to obtain a new 90-day stamp and “legally” remain in the country. Many of them won’t even stand face to face with the customs official who stamps their passports. On these long-distance buses, this practice – called buying days – is common, as bus drivers and Home Affairs officials line their pockets at the expense of those desperate to remain in South Africa. Carte Blanche investigates.
Producer: Busisiwe Gumede-Chizhanje
Presenter: Govan Whittles
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Road from Hell
Sybil Visagie is a force to be reckoned with. As a sheep farmer in the heart of the Hantam Karoo, she’s been helping other farmers get back on their feet after a devastating, nearly decade-long drought. But as the farmers in this part of the country are starting to recover, they face another major challenge: getting their product to the market. The roads of the Hantam and Namaqua districts have been neglected by government for years; today, they are inaccessible. When the scarce rains come, the roads turn into rivers, cutting the farmers off from the rest of the country. Now, the logistics companies that move products like meat and wool are refusing to make collections from farms. Farmers say it means working for no pay for months on end while, for customers, the price of lamb is skyrocketing.
Producer: Anina Peens
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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Racing Towards History
Five years ago, Mika Abrahams was racing F1 cars on a video game with his friends. Now, the 16-year-old is on the brink of making history. This young Johannesburg talent is set to become the first South African to race in Formula 1 since Jody Scheckter, the 1979 World Champion. Mika’s skill and determination have taken him from karting in South Africa to racing in Europe. His impressive career includes a standout season in the Danish F4 Championship, where he secured nine podiums in 15 starts. In 2023, he competed in the British F4 championship, earning 1st and 2nd place finishes. Mika also earned the prestigious SA Protea National Colours. We take to the circuit with this rising star.
Producer: Floris Kotze
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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Born Big
The sleepy town of Port Deposit in Maryland, USA has just over 600 residents. But even its tiny population hasn’t escaped the epidemic that’s spreading through America: childhood obesity. Research shows that over 15 million American children are obese. It’s a staggering figure and, put simply, it means nearly one in five children is struggling with severe weight gain. Now, parents are taking drastic steps, pursuing radical treatment options including bariatric surgery and experimental medication. But are these life-altering procedures the right step for a child?
Producer: SBS Australia
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Carte Blanche: The Podcast
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Please note Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change.
