Coming up on Carte Blanche on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], Sunday 6 August 2023 at 19:00.
Metro Match-Up
Johannesburg: poorly maintained, and with high crime levels, the once-thriving metropolis has become a dangerous and decaying city. Fed up residents are voting with their feet. Thousands have emigrated and many others have headed south to the Western Cape. For those in the pet and furniture removal business, it’s boom time. But not for the sellers of Johannesburg properties as the prices of beautiful homes tumble. The opposite is happening in the Cape as demand for properties outstrips supply and prices soar. As Gauteng politicians squabble, the Western Cape government is having to plan whole new cities just to accommodate the newcomers. But it’s not always greener on the other side… as we learn from an upwardly mobile Joburg couple who gave it all up and relocated to a farm on the outskirts of Montagu.
Producer: Joy Summers
Presenter: Masa Kekana & Erin Bates
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Underground Astronauts
In the space industry, astronauts are vaunted as the ultimate explorers of the universe, rising far above the earth. But in the depths of the remote underground caves beneath the Cradle of Humankind, Dr Marina Elliot and Dr Keneiloe Molopyane are the extraordinary “Underground Astronauts,” embarking on a courageous quest to uncover and study hominid fossils that have remained undisturbed for centuries. Their mission is simple: to boldly go where few have ever dared to go. And to date, they’ve had great success. Their groundbreaking discoveries challenge conventional beliefs about our evolutionary journey and shed light on the remarkable species known as Homo naledi. Carte Blanche meets the courageous paleoanthropologists unearthing the human story long preserved in rock and bone.
Producer: Carol Albertyn Christie
Presenter: Masa Kekana
Pressing Issues
When former President Jacob Zuma accused senior state prosecutor Billy Downer of leaking confidential medical information to journalist Karyn Maughan, she couldn’t have imagined how severely it would impact her life. For several months, Zuma pursued a private prosecution of both, placing Maughan in the crosshairs of some of the former president’s staunchest supporters. In court, Downer and Maughan emerged victorious. But she endured such violent online vitriol that she was forced to retreat to her family home. As a journalist, she’s not alone. It seems South Africa’s judiciary is being used as a battleground to harass and intimidate journalists and prevent them from doing their work. Carte Blanche examines how media freedom is under attack.
Producer: Julian Sun
Presenter: Masa Kekana
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The Magic of Mots
On the small screen, sports broadcaster Motshidisi Mohono is a commanding figure. Sharp witted, talented and knowledgeable, Mots – as she’s affectionately known – has solidified her place among the giants of rugby commentary and analysis. But it wasn’t always this way: this award-winning sportscaster’s navigation of live TV’s often unnerving terrain has taken years. Now, broadcasting to local and international audiences, she’s considered one of the industry’s leading lights. And, as sports fans prepare for next month’s Rugby World Cup, Mots has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who dares to follow their dreams. In the Springboks’ final home match before the tournament, Carte Blanche joined her pitchside.
Producer: Floris Kotze
Presenter: Claire Mawisa
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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.
