Coming Up On Carte Blanche – 7 January 2024

“Our understanding of how kidnappings play out have likely been shaped by the threats of retribution growled down a phone line by Liam Neesom; the knife-throwing, gun-toting climax ending in inevitable death for the bad guys. In what is fast becoming a global kidnapping hotspot, they tend to come to a far less dramatic conclusion. Negotiations are held, money demanded, and – generally – money paid over. Somehow, though, as Sunday’s documentary shows, the real-world version is still more sinister than anything a Hollywood scriptwriter could dream up.” ~ John Webb, Executive Producer

Kidnapped for Ransom

On a bustling Friday night in Johannesburg’s southern suburbs, the ordinary turns into a nightmare for an unsuspecting businessman. Trapped in a small room facing an ultimatum from his captors: pay up or face death. On the other side of town, in an informal settlement, another man puts in an order for a new set of “tools” for his next job. Kidnappings are on the rise in South Africa, evolving into a billion-rand industry where lives become commodities. In this documentary, kidnappings for ransom are under the microscope as kidnapper, victim and hostage negotiators share some rare insight into this growing crime trend. With support from The Henry Nxumalo Foundation for Investigative Journalism, it delves into the murky world of kidnappings.

Producers: Nicky Troll & Nombuso Nkosi

I’m in Love with My Chatbot

In the age of love and technology, customisable AI chatbot avatars are skyrocketing in popularity, pushing the boundaries of intimacy and dialogue. In Belgium, Anissia is in the middle of gender transition and, using a chatbot app for the past year, they’ve made a connection with their chatbot friend Atara. One woman describes her online companion as “her friend and lover”, and they’re not alone. Millions of users regularly use the same app, sharing in forums their experiences and photos of their virtual friends. But as the tech improves and it becomes harder to detect real people from AI, abuse is rife and security flaws are having chilling consequences. One man was encouraged to commit suicide by his chatbot. This story investigates whether developers can control their chatbots, and if they could develop a “mind” of their own.

Producer: RTS

NEW YEAR, NEW STORIES

Dezemba is Over

Macfarlane Moleli reminds us that the December party is officially over. But Carte Blanche enters the new year determined to continue holding those in power to account.

A Message From Mac

You Made It!

There’s no denying it: 2023 was a rough year for most of us. Erin Bates lifts a glass to you for making it and wishes you all a wonderful 2024.

A Message From Erin

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Rape Extortion Racket

In eMqhekezweni, a small village in the Eastern Cape, women are on edge. Once the second home of former President Nelson Mandela, it was known for its close-knit community living in relative tranquillity. But now it’s plagued by a sinister balaclava-clad gang running a ruthless extortion racket targeting women. At dusk, men arrive on horseback to terrorise the villagers, demanding that young girls and women of all ages pay them a protection fee or risk being raped. Most in the village are poor, unable to pay their tormentors. Yet help from the police is kilometres away.

Full Story

Miracle Baby

Matteo Botha shouldn’t be alive today… When he was just 18 months old, an ordinary evening at home ended in an emergency visit to hospital. Matteo needed surgery to have a large portion of his bowel removed. But this was just the beginning of his ordeal. Matteo’s heart stopped on the operating table, an unusual outcome that baffled his medical team. They resuscitated him – but then his heart stopped again… and again. Within 24 hours of being rushed to the emergency department, the little boy’s heart had stopped 12 times. His doctors warned that he was severely brain damaged, but his parents refused to give up. Now, more than a year later, Matteo is a thriving baby boy making a remarkable neurological recovery.