“Our doctor drain piece is about more than a failure to retain vital medical skills and the obvious impact on the NHI. Filmed in Ireland, it also lays bare the challenges of setting up a centrally funded public health system, even in a country as wealthy as the Emerald Isle. I can tell you from experience that Ireland has so far failed to provide an appropriate health service for its relatively small population, with surgery waiting times running into months and sometimes years. Now imagine trying to meet the needs of a population ten times the size with a fraction of the money.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
Wild Coast Crime Wave
A favourite among locals and tourists, the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape promises beautiful beaches and an untouched landscape. But in September last year, Carte Blanche investigated an escalating crime wave sweeping the picturesque region. Several community members had been robbed and beaten in their homes by brazen criminals and, despite one of the attacks being caught on CCTV camera, there had been no arrests. Police promised to increase visibility and delivered a mobile police station to Nqileni village weeks later – but it remains immobile and unmanned. In February, eight months after Tony and Jean Robertson were first attacked in their Mpame village home, it happened again. The violent crime has brought tourism and the development sector to their knees. And it continues unabated, with no help in sight.
Producer: Catherine Rice | Presenter: Masa Kekana
Doctors Dump SA
The government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan envisions South Africa as a healthcare hub characterised by modern medical infrastructure supporting universal access. But it will remain no more than a pipe dream if the country fails to retain its highly skilled and experienced doctors. In Ireland, hundreds of South African doctors are settling into their new lives, seeking better opportunities abroad and fuelling a critical healthcare brain drain back home. Carte Blanche examines the causes and consequences of the exodus and asks: can South Africa’s public healthcare system withstand the pressure of losing so many doctors?
Producer & Presenter: Nickolaus Bauer
Powered Paragliding
After a groundbreaking first – flying a powered paraglider from Johannesburg to Cape Town – Jean-Pierre Seger (JP) proved that the impossible could be done. Now, JP is teaming up with Lawrence Marais for an even greater challenge: flying from the northern-most point of South Africa to the southern-most tip. With nothing but inflatable wings, small engines and open skies, the duo will attempt to cover over 2,000 kilometres, battling unpredictable weather, rugged landscapes and the sheer endurance required for a mission of this scale. But what exactly is powered paragliding? How does it work? And why would anyone take on such an extreme adventure? Carte Blanche takes to the skies to find out, joining JP and Lawrence as they gear up for this epic adventure.
Producer: Floris Kotze | Presenter: Erin Bates
NOW STREAMING
e-Hailing Hell
Your e-hailing driver might not be who you think they are… Carte Blanche exposes a black market where e-hailing accounts are sold or rented, leaving passengers at risk. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
Baobab Bomb
A mega project in Limpopo – backed by the provincial government and Chinese developers – threatens thousands of indigenous trees for coal mining, power, and steel. Now, critics warn of the severe biodiversity risks. For the full story, get DStv Stream.
A Marathon a Day
The physical and mental toll of attempting a marathon is something the serious runners amongst us will attest to, and the rest of us are glad we never have to experience. So, imagine the impact of running a marathon a day for more than a month. That’s what good friends Charles Raw and Matthew Murray attempted when they decided to raise money for a good cause. And our very own IronMac set off to the Westen Cape to meet them. For the full story, get DStv Stream.
NEWS & VIEWS
UPDATE: Cyclist Collisions
In 2024, Carte Blanche reported on an accident in which Cape Town cyclist Dewald van der Westhuizen was left with horrific injuries. He was struck by an allegedly drunk driver who ultimately left the scene of the crash. At the time, the driver faced charges of attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving and driving under the influence. Now, just over a year after the incident, the driver has been let off on a fine… Watch our original story now on our website.
Watch Again (age restricted)
A Language Lives On
Oxford University’s Rhodes House has taken a big step in acknowledging colonial history by adding an inscription in ǀXam – a sleeping language once spoken by South Africa’s Khoesan peoples – to its new convention centre. The inscription pays tribute to those who endured hardship under colonial rule.
Bringing this to life took careful collaboration, including input from Ouma Katrina Esau, a leading educator of Nǀuu – a language closely related to ǀXam. Her expertise helped ensure the translation stayed true to its linguistic and cultural roots.
In 2023, Macfarlane met Ouma Katrina, a woman who has spent her life keeping the N|uu language alive by teaching younger generations in her Northern Cape community. Back then, she and her daughter, Claudia du Plessis, were developing a N|uu dictionary in an effort to preserve the language for future generations. You can revisit this endearing story now on the Carte Blanche website.
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