“We have another busy show this Sunday, but how could I possibly focus on anything other than the rugby? By the time we go to air, the Boks will be wrapping up their cross-country trophy tour. If 2019 was anything to go by, it’ll be several days of unbridled celebration that few would argue our embattled society doesn’t deserve. Congratulations to our back-to-back World Champions! You are, in so many ways, an image of the country we wish we had become and a reminder that we might yet.” ~ John Webb, Executive Producer
A Good Deed
They say no good deed goes unpunished. That was almost the case for a group of Carte Blanche viewers who had rolled up their sleeves to help disabled children at the state-run Ikwezi Lokusa Special School in the Eastern Cape. In September this year, our investigation exposed gross negligence and human rights violations at the boarding school, with vulnerable children left to fend for themselves. It was a story that moved many of our viewers into action, arranging trucks full of donations for the children. But when it was time to deliver, the volunteers were locked out of the school while the provincial Department of Education did nothing to intervene. But we could not let these children – who have been through so much – be deprived yet again.
Producer: Tarryn Crossman | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Bird Flu
A deadly outbreak of avian flu has left South Africa’s poultry industry on the brink of disaster. With millions of chickens being culled, grocery stores are forced to ration meat and egg sales while the government imports eggs and meat to mitigate shortages over the festive season. But there is more than Christmas dinner at stake: some experts say the impact of the virus has been so devastating, it will take the industry 18 months to recover. And there’s a human face to the crisis, with thousands of jobs on the line, and some smaller independent suppliers facing financial ruin.
Producer: Julian Sun | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard
A Champion’s Return
The Rugby World Cup Champions are home. In scenes reminiscent of the Springboks’ victorious return from the 2019 World Cup tournament in Japan, South Africans – loud and proud – rolled out the red carpet for our heroes at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday. Thousands of people, singing and dancing, celebrated the Boks’ triumph in lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a historic fourth time – only the second team ever to win back-to-back World Cup victories. Now, as skipper Siya Kolisi and his team continue their whirlwind tour with the coveted trophy, Carte Blanche examines how the Springboks have inspired a nation.
Producer: Stenette Grosskopf | Presenter: Govan Whittles
CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST
Relationship Issues
The ANC wants to call it quits on partnering with the EFF. The latest Brenthurst Survey predicts some interesting 2023 election outcomes. Then, the AGOA Forum kicks off this week. And the SA Music Awards in limbo. But first, Erin Bates and Queenin Masuabi look at the Springboks’ unforgettable Rugby World Cup journey and how it’s inspired a nation.
Not So Qute?
It’s compact, lightweight and has a top speed of 70km an hour. In the cutthroat business of e-hailing services, the Bajaj Qute is an unwelcome competitor. But is the new kid on the block operating illegally and putting the lives of motorists and commuters at risk?
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Liquid Gold
Lucrative, in demand and illegal. How black-market fuel operators are coining it as fuel prices at the pump spike to an all-time high.
Codeine Chemist
He’s a former rugby player, a trained pharmacist, and an alleged trader in black market codeine. Carte Blanche investigates this former athlete’s role in the illegal proliferation of a regulated drug found in cough syrup and pain killers that’s become popular with young addicts. It’s not the first time we’ve had him in our sights but, on this occasion, he found it impossible to sidestep our crew.
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