Coming up on Carte Blanche on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 16 October 2022 at 19:00.
An Unusual Suspect
Tsomo, Cofimvaba, Nqamkwe, eNgcobo – iconic small towns in the Eastern Cape where hardware stores, critical to the local economy, say they’re under siege. The demand is simple, “stop delivering goods to your customers or else!” The extortion has quickly spread from one village to the next… a new type of criminal syndicate strongarming the owners into getting rid of their own staff so that a mysterious group called Masiphathisane (let’s take care of each other) can take over deliveries. As breadwinners are forced out of jobs, the extortion has escalated, with delivery vehicles that don’t comply being stoned and burned. Carte Blanche confronts the unlikely mastermind behind this reign of terror.
Producer: Sipha Kema
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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Putting the Bus(t) in Bus Stop
Yarona will take you there! This was the promise made by Rustenburg’s Local Municipality. But the bus rapid transport (BRT) system has been a work in progress for 15 years, at an estimated cost of R3.5 billion. But that’s not all: another R1.5 billion has been set aside to get the “buy-in” of local taxi operators. Carte Blanche finds stations now collapsed and vandalised before they were ever used. Concrete bus routes, covered in weeds, are expensive footpaths for pedestrians and the occasional cow. Another failure in the provision of affordable public transport? Or is the taxi industry holding Rustenburg to ransom?
Producer: Anina Peens | Derek Watts
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Medical Xenophobia
Abandoned, abused, and exploited in a place of care. After sporadic verbal attacks by politicians and more violent ones by self-styled vigilantes, Carte Blanche re-examines what the Constitution and health laws say about emergency and maternal care for foreigners in local hospitals. Despite humane policies, xenophobia has found a new target and it’s affecting the most vulnerable: children and expectant mothers. It’s violating the joy of foreign-born women bringing new life into the world through an often-cruel reception and demands for payment. This is the ugly scourge of medical xenophobia and obstetric violence in SA hospitals.
Producer: Sophia Phirippides
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
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Mammabearsteffs
Behind the decks her grey hair is backlit by laser lights. She whoops at the crowd and the dancing masses go wild! They can’t get enough of DJ Mammabearsteffs. It was to honour her late son’s dream of becoming a professional DJ that Joy Steffens decided on a life spinning the decks. Dylan died of cancer in 2016, just as he was about to go to music school. Now 62 years old, music is helping Joy heal and stay connected with her son – while also propelling her into a new, loud life. And, to her surprise, audiences have embraced her. Carte Blanche meets Joy as she gets onto the big stage at the annual H2O Party with its thousands of partygoers. At a time when her peer group is planning the end of their careers, Joy is at the beginning of a whole new one. How do we keep learning and living passionately over 60?
Producer: Tarryn Crossman
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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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.
