{"id":23171,"date":"2024-11-29T17:54:23","date_gmt":"2024-11-29T15:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=23171"},"modified":"2024-11-29T17:54:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T15:54:27","slug":"coming-up-on-carte-blanche-1-december-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2024\/11\/29\/coming-up-on-carte-blanche-1-december-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Coming Up On Carte Blanche – 1 December 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cAs with most crimes, what began as a trickle has become a flood as syndicates quickly figure out the rewards offered by kidnappings outweigh the risks. In the Eastern Cape in particular, what were once isolated incidents mostly targeting the Ethiopian community have now become regular abductions of a far broader range of targets.\u00a0We can only hope police are able to crush the groups responsible before a growing scourge becomes a national crisis.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>– John Webb, Executive Producer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kidnap Kingpins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since 2022, foreign nationals – especially Ethiopian businessmen – have been targeted by kidnappers in the Eastern Cape. Now it\u2019s become an all-out war. In Qonce (formerly King William’s Town), the community says at least two people are taken every week, with the kidnappers demanding ransom from their families. On the ground, informants and security experts say they\u2019ve narrowed down the location of the kidnapping kingpins. They say that organised crime syndicates have taken root in the province and allege that police are involved. According to some insiders, these small-scale kidnappings provide much-needed capital for the syndicates to operate on a larger, more lucrative scale; targeting wealthy South African business owners. Carte Blanche investigates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer: Tarryn Crossman | Presenter: Govan Whittles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Surviving the Valencian Floods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In late October, South African mother-of-four Lindie Jackson was enjoying an ordinary day in her new home city, Valencia in Spain. Then torrential rains and flooding hit the coastal city. It would become the deadliest flood in modern Spanish history, killing more than 220 people. Within minutes of receiving the flood alert warning, the streets had become submerged in fast-flowing muddy water. In every street, cars piled on top of each other, pavements were completely ripped up and debris was everywhere. For people like Lindie, the unfolding disaster was terrifying. Now, she shares the harrowing details, revealing governance failures as extreme weather conditions continue to batter cities around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer & Presenter: Nickolaus Bauer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joburg\u2019s Literary Lottery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Johannesburg\u2019s inner city, there\u2019s a wealth of knowledge waiting to be explored. Known as the Literary District, it\u2019s the unlikely home to a treasure trove of books from some of the world\u2019s best-known African and international authors. From one-of-a-kind collectables tucked away in the basement of the Rand Club, to second-hand paperback novels sold on the street – this area boasts more than 70 booksellers within an approximate one-kilometre radius. Former Agence France-Presse journalist Griffin Shea is one of them, and he has spent the past decade compiling a detailed map to help book lovers navigate the district. Carte Blanche explores the inner city\u2019s surprising reading culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producer: Jeannine Snyman & Stenette Grosskopf | Presenter: Masa Kekana<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CARTE BLANCHE: THE PODCAST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How Many Ships to a Navy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Decriminalising illegal mining? Some say that\u2019s the solution to our zama zama problem. Then, the EFF is on life support \u2013 can it survive the mass exodus? Also, how many ships do you need to make a navy? Just one, it seems. And why doing something good could land you in court\u2026 But first \u2013 a massive study into South Africa\u2019s gender-based violence crisis was published last week. With nearly 20 000 households surveyed \u2013 consisting of roughly 50% men and 50% women from all walks of life \u2013 it serves as a serious wake-up call to government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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