𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟴 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟲. Escorted by the legendary Rooivalk combat helicopter, Carte Blanche travels to a recently-captured military camp deep in the tropical forests north of Beni in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. John Webb gains exclusive access to the SANDF’s forward-operating bases in the infamous Triangle of Death in North Kivu Province as we visit our soldiers on the frontline in the battle against ADF rebels. We find soldiers who have distinguished themselves both in the field of battle as well as in crucial combat support roles, and SANDF pilots operating as part of the UN's aviation unit who have fast developed a reputation for skill and courage. Carte Blanche also meets the SANDF's General Derrick Mgwebi who was appointed to head the overall UN peacekeeping operation in the DRC - still the largest peacekeeping mission in the world. For more content get DStv Stream Premium: https://bit.ly/DStv-Stream

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟱. Exclusive CCTV footage shows the shocking extent to which zama zamas are wreaking havoc in the North West. These illegal miners are better known for descending on abandoned mines to get at any gold remaining underground. But North West police and security forces are no match for hundreds of zamas, armed to the teeth, nightly pillaging local mine infrastructure above ground. Carte Blanche enters the warzone. For the latest episodes, get DStv Stream Premium: https://bit.ly/DStv-Stream

"Good evening. This is Carte Blanche." You’ve heard the words a hundred times in your sitting room on a Sunday night, but have you ever wondered what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling? Well, you’re in luck! Because we’re about to give you a sneak peek into the story behind the stories. From the tension of investigating organised crime to the fluffed lines, or the high of being on a new adventure to making a plan when everything goes wrong. Meet the team that makes the Carte Blanche machine run and go off-script with us on some of 2024’s most iconic stories.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟴 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. On any given afternoon in the Botanical Gardens, visitors may spot one of Johannesburg’s rare sights. Sometimes it’s an Inca warrior or an Ottoman trader. But on really good days, it's a Crusader patrolling the forests. Gareth Sephton is a unique character with a passion for history, and he’s decided to literally put himself in the shoes of those who lived before us to experience what life was like in a bygone era. Gareth believes history is more than just memorising a string of facts: it’s a sensory experience, and he’s not afraid to immerse himself in the textures and tastes of any era. Dog walkers may be confused by his attire, but for children at a local primary school and the elderly at a nearby retirement home, Gareth teaches and entertains in equal measure. A delightful story about what might happen when you let your imagination run free.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In Johannesburg’s inner city, there’s a wealth of knowledge waiting to be explored. Known as the Literary District, it’s the unlikely home to a treasure trove of books from some of the world’s 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’s surprising reading culture.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. 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.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟰 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In Soweto, Jerry Selwane is an unstoppable force, saving and rehabilitating injured and abandoned animals in his community. Through Soweto's Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre (SARAC), he is on a mission to revolutionise animal welfare, one rescue at a time. Jerry's journey began more than two decades ago when he worked for the SPCA. But he soon realised that much more was needed to combat animal cruelty. So, he took a bold leap, pouring his heart (and life savings) into SARAC. But Jerry's vision extends far beyond rescuing animals. He's now cultivating a new generation of animal advocates, aptly called Jerry’s Rangers.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟴 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In 2019, Shamila Batohi returned from The Hague to lead our National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). During the Zuma presidency, the once-proud NPA had been hollowed out by state capture; Batohi was a welcome appointment who promised to restore the organisation and ensure speedy convictions of state capture perpetrators. The same year, former prosecutor Hermione Cronje returned to head up the NPA's sharp end: the Investigating Directorate (ID) which would investigate, arrest and prosecute state capture and complex financial crimes. Batohi and Cronje: two powerful women with the same aim. But within two years, Cronje left for a second time. Since then, the NPA has made several high-profile arrests, but the progress on state capture cases is dismal, and crucial ones have been struck from the roll. Is the NPA still in crisis, despite angry denials from current leadership? Carte Blanche, in association with amaBhungane, looks at what has gone wrong at the National Prosecuting Authority. FULL DOCUMENTARY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2HakW03sLQ

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. On 21 October 2023 - as the Springboks beat England in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in Paris - across the world on the coast of South Africa, an injured, barnacle-covered turtle washed up on Struisbaai beach. She was rescued by a local who contacted the Turtle Rescue Network. The turtle was in severe distress and some believed it wouldn’t be alive for much longer. Over several weeks, volunteers tried to save the turtle, which was also missing a flipper. But the frightened animal was resilient and within months, the team could see a substantial improvement in her health. Buoyed by her fighting spirit, the team aptly named her “Bokkie” in honour of the mighty Springboks.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Since 2022, foreign nationals - especially Ethiopian businessmen - have been targeted by kidnappers in the Eastern Cape. Now it’s 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’ve 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.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. On Tuesday, thousands of protesters gathered at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria to protest the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill. This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Bill into law in September, while also recommending that two crucial sections of the Bill be reviewed. Now, two months into the three-month consultation period around sections of the BELA Act, opinions continue to be divided as the future of basic education seemingly hangs in the balance. As time runs out for concerned parties to find a middle ground, will Ramaphosa sign the remaining controversial sections into law?

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Mathews Phosa has been at the forefront of South Africa’s political landscape for decades. In 1985, as a young activist and ANC comrade, Phosa fled the apartheid regime and went into exile where he would become one of the commanders in umKhonto weSizwe. Later, he trained in counterintelligence and weapons handling in East Germany. He was one of the first ANC members to return to South Africa to prepare the way for negotiations. He became the first premier of Mpumalanga during the presidency of Nelson Mandela. A close ally to Madiba, under Thabo Mbeki, Phosa was pushed to the sidelines, falsely accused of being involved in a ‘plot’ to overthrow President Mbeki. Phosa would later become the Treasurer-General of the ANC during Jacob Zuma’s turbulent administration. In his new book, Witness to Power, Phosa pulls back the veil on some of the most crucial political moments in South Africa’s history. Carte Blanche sits down with the veteran politician who still seems reluctant to reveal the true extent of everything he knows. 

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟰 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. The Carte Blanche Making A Difference Trust has a longstanding relationship with Sebokeng Regional Hospital. In the last decade, the Trust has built two paediatric high-care wards at Sebokeng, but they’re operating beyond capacity. Meanwhile, at Sebokeng - as at other regional hospitals - children are traumatised by their exposure to violence and illness in the emergency department they share with the community's adults. So the Trust stepped in again. In 2023, construction began on a first-of-its-kind Paediatric Emergency Unit, where children will be treated by specialist doctors using equipment designed for their tiny bodies. This week, the Trust proudly unveiled the completed, state-of-the-art facility and handed it over to the hospital, its community and, most importantly, its children.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟯 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Arturo Elizondo, a young American inventor, is revolutionising the global food system with his groundbreaking innovation of chicken-less egg whites. Arturo's foray into food security and sustainability was driven by his ambition to reimagine the future of food. He developed the world’s first animal-free egg - crafted using precision fermentation - and it’s already made its debut in some Michelin-starred kitchens. Arturo's mission is simple: to create greater access to sustainable protein while preserving our planet for future generations. His story is one of disruption, determination, and hope for a greener, more sustainable future.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In the shadows of South Africa's spiritual landscape, a sinister practice is claiming lives: exorcisms gone wrong. In KwaZulu-Natal, one family is demanding justice after the tragic death of their 17-year-old daughter. Prior to her death, Thozama Sonjica's family suspected that her uncharacteristic disobedience and bad behaviour signalled something far more sinister. They suspected that she, along with her group of friends, may be possessed by demonic forces. The local pastor confirmed their worst fears – the devil was at work – and he ordered an exorcism be performed on the children. But during the ritual, something went horribly wrong. Five days later and after enduring prolonged torture at the hands of her tormentors, Thozama succumbed to her injuries. But this isn’t an isolated incident in South Africa. Carte Blanche goes inside the secretive world of so-called Exorcisms.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟳 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Last year, national government signed off on a public servants wage agreement that the country simply couldn’t afford. Under pressure from trade unions, government increased its already overburdened wage bill, pushing the cost of the shortfall onto provincial budgets. Now provinces have been forced to cut their budgets, slashing personnel numbers and plunging service delivery further into crisis. Already overstretched, the public health and education sectors in the Western Cape have been dealt a devastating blow, and they’re not afraid to say it. Carte Blanche examines the developing crisis and asks: is the Western Cape the canary in the coal mine?