Coming Up On Carte Blanche – 14 July 2024

“In a world of pithy catchphrases and acronyms, one above all others is likely to send self-respecting journalists into fevered delirium: SLAPP. It stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, a legal approach increasingly adopted by people accused of wrongdoing to stifle media freedom. On Sunday we broadcast an important investigation into the death of a young teenager attending a 16th birthday party. It’s a tragic story and it’s clearly in the public interest that it should be told. And yet we were subjected to what we regard as concerted and mischievous threats of legal action to silence us. But, thanks to the smarts of our legal team and the thorough research of the producer, the strategy failed. SLAPP 0 – TRUTH 1.” – John Webb, Executive Producer

Horror in Heidelberg

The mystery around the death of 18-year-old Dylan Bothma has yet to be solved. In June last year, Dylan was beaten and later died after being hit by two cars on the R23 between Heidelberg and Balfour. On the night of his death, he attended a sweet sixteenth birthday party, but our investigation reveals that it may have been anything but an innocent party for teenagers. It has been a year since Dylan’s death and no arrests have been made. His family, battling to find closure, started their own investigation and are slowly piecing together the puzzle of Dylan’s brutal death.

Producer: Anina Peens | Presenter: Govan Whittles

Black Mambas

South Africa remains a global hotspot for the illicit rhino horn trade. It’s a violent and remorseless underworld. No wonder then that, when most of us think of anti-poaching units, we picture armed men ready for combat. But just outside the town of Hoedspruit, we meet a group of rangers with a very different approach. They’re called the Black Mambas and they’re the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit. Trained to be the eyes and ears of the bush, the Mambas have reduced poaching incursions by 62% in the Greater Kruger where they operate. Remarkably, they’ve been able to achieve that without a single shot fired. We meet the inspiring group of women taking on the dangers of the bush unarmed.

Producer: Graham Coetzer | Presenter: Govan Whittles

The Joy

It began as little more than a group of young boys, all belonging to the school choir, singing melodies together to pass the time. But when the boys from Hammarsdale in Sterkspruit started recording their sessions and sharing them on social media, thousands of South Africans began to take note. Then, within three years, some of the world’s biggest musicians were queuing up to share the stage with the newly-formed acapella singing sensation The Joy. Now, they’re a bona fide international act, but their musical roots remain firmly in South Africa.

Producer: Busisiwe Gumede-Chizhanje | Presenter: Masa Kekana

Wild Coast Warriors

In this 90-minute broadcast, Carte Blanche brings you the locally produced documentary, Wild Coast Warriors, which explores the fight against the establishment of oil exploration operations by Shell Global on the Wild Coast. Centred primarily around Shell’s seismic survey mapping of the coastline, the film follows the unfolding of the case to prevent further exploration and oil rigging, and the irreversible destruction of the Wild Coast environment and surrounding communities. Through a mixture of interviews with prominent figures in the cause, as well as archives drawn from television and newspapers, the extent of the environmental, social, and economic implications are unearthed. Wild Coast Warriors goes beneath the surface of the case, exploring the interconnected rights of Indigenous communities, customary law, and conservation in the face of foreign interests, corruption, and exploitation.

Directors: Nick Chevallier, Leigh Wood & Guido Zanghi

CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST

Of Cabinets and Cow Farts

Two South African engineers continue to languish in an Equatorial Guinea prison – now, the UN says: release them. From a disastrous debate to concerning moves by the US Supreme Court – is the American dream fading? Then, nuclear rhino horn and taxing cow farts – we look at the more quirky solutions to combat poaching and climate change. But first, we finally have a Cabinet – and it’s a biggie! With President Ramaphosa adding two ministers and seven deputy ministers, South Africa’s national executive is the largest it’s ever been. We look at some of the more surprising appointments and ask whether being qualified for the job is what matters most…

Listen Now

PICKS OF THE WEEK

Justice for Ukraine

In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, civilians continue to suffer. For the Ukrainian government, they have to continue the fightback. We travel to Ukraine to speak to some of the people impacted by the war and those who are trying to direct its path.

Watch Now (age restricted)

MFV Lepanto: Lost at Sea

On a clear day off the coast of Cape Town, the unthinkable unfolds: A deep-sea fishing trawler sinks within minutes, leaving several fishermen presumed dead. Now, their families are demanding answers.

Full Story

A Queen is Born

She was known as the Rain Queen, the hereditary queen of the Balobedu people in Limpopo, believed to have a gift for bringing rain to her allies and drought to her enemies. Now, Mzansi Magic will tell the rich story of Queen Modjadji. We speak to series creative producer, Gersh Kgamedi.