“Apparently, the term ‘banana republic’ was coined by the writer O. Henry in the early 1900s to describe a fictitious country loosely based on Honduras. I wonder if, in his wildest imaginings, Henry could have conceived of a real country in which an elite army unit is accused of abduction and murder – days before a top policeman accuses a cabinet minister and a provincial judiciary of protecting a criminal kingpin – days after a deputy minister is fired for not getting permission to fly overseas – days before a ruling party apparatchik insists said country is not a ‘banana republic’.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
The Fight for Land in Georgia
For nearly two decades, a community of South African farmers has carved out a life in the Republic of Georgia, drawn by arable land and promises of opportunity. They were followed by a growing South African presence in tech, medicine and financial services. But the same soil that once offered new hope is now the site of rising tension. In the face of new restrictions on foreign land ownership, state interference, and red tape, farmers are leaving the land they helped develop. Carte Blanche speaks to the South African farmers who say they were welcomed in, only to be quietly pushed out.
Producer & Presenter: Nickolaus Bauer
Open Secrets Revisited
In 2023, we reported on an elite shadow force allegedly operating above the law in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Investigations linked the group to the kidnapping of an Ethiopian man and his bodyguard from the Mall of Africa. The SANDF claimed they were on a training exercise. Then the investigator was shot in the head. Illegal surveillance, torture, even murder: the evidence pointed to a dark underworld in our national defence force. Top brass accused us of fabricating the story. But now, 12 SANDF members are in court on charges of murder, kidnapping and vehicle theft. Will the silence around the alleged rogue special force finally be broken? And what secrets will emerge?
Producer: Marion Edmunds | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Magical Haenertsburg
From a forest full of rare birds to the tallest planted tree in Africa: Magoebaskloof is shrouded in mist and history. And the people living here are just as unique; whether it’s the coffee farmer harvesting at altitude, the guide who knows every call of the forest birds, or the creator of award-winning international film props and costumes. Perhaps there’s something mystical about Haenertsburg – or maybe it’s just the fresh mountain air – but this little village is truly magical. We travel to the Land of the Silver Mist to get a taste.
Producer: Annalise Lubbe | Presenter: Masa Kekana
NOW STREAMING
Beauty Underground: Fake Injectors
It’s a cliché: when the price seems too good to be true, that’s probably because it is. And women turning to influencers for the “international” look are finding it out the hard way. Injectable cosmetics – they promise to plump your skin, sculpt your cheekbones, and even stop time. And untrained, unlicensed practitioners are cashing in on their popularity. Lourensa peers beneath the skin of the beauty industry and finds a flourishing underground market. Watch the full story now on DStv Stream and Catch Up.
Reviving Phakisa Freeway
We have a long, rich history in motorsports – from manufacturing rally vehicles to contributing champions to the F1 circuit. We’re also home to the only oval speedway in Africa: the Phakisa Freeway near Welkom in the Free State. For locals, Phakisa is legendary – once home to international events and the source of a booming motorsports economy. But today, all that is a distant memory. We went to Welkom to interview people wanting to revive the track and got threatened with arrest in the process. Witness the confront with track officials now on DStv Stream.
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