Carte Blanche: The Podcast

The Day the Earth Shook

The ground shook violently, buildings crumbled, and lives were shattered in an instant. As rescuers race to find survivors following the deadly Türkiye-Syria earthquake, we speak to South Africans impacted by the devastation.

27 Feb 2023 7 min

The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick (27 February 2023)

From last week's big budget 2023 takeaways, to de Ruyter's early exit at Eskom, to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's lofty promises. That and so much more in this week's The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick featuring Ray Mahlaka and Siniketiwe Hlanze. 

26 Feb 2023 18 min

Rental Rogues

The pictures are real, the property agents legitimate… But their identities have been stolen. We investigate an intricate scam that’s left some consumers frustrated and cashless.

22 Feb 2023 12 min

The Singing Policeman

He won the hearts of millions of South Africans and rose to the top to win SA Idols. So, why is the policeman with the big voice now selling eggs and atchar from the boot of his car? The answer will inspire you… 

21 Feb 2023 9 min

Air Tales

Thousands of flights take to our skies every day, and passenger lives depend on a safety-first regime. In what is supposed to be a tightly regulated industry, we ask: is the Civil Aviation Authority on top of their game? 

20 Feb 2023 21 min

The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick (20 February 2023)

The news cycle is busy and, at times, overwhelming. Let us help you make sense of local and international headlines every week as Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffejee and Carte Blanche's Masa Kekana sit down every Monday to unpack the biggest talking points, all wrapped up neatly for you…

19 Feb 2023 15 min

Sheba the Tiger

Rassie Erasmus – no, not the rugby coach – is a man with a lot to answer for... Now, the infamous owner of Sheba the tiger says his hand-reared apex predator was maliciously released from his property. The question is: why?

15 Feb 2023 12 min

Cheeky Bikers

How did Macfarlane Moleli end up in the streets of Pretoria… in his boxer shorts? We join over 200 “cheeky" bikers for the annual Anti-Pants, Anti-Poaching rally.

14 Feb 2023 11 min

EXTRA Türkiye-Syria Earthquake

When disaster struck parts of Türkiye and Syria early in February, Dr Simpiwe Sobuwa immediately packed his bags to assist Gift of the Givers in providing aid to affected residents. He speaks to Carte Blanche producer Siniketiwe Hlanze from Antakya in Türkiye about his experiences on the ground and the…

14 Feb 2023 7 min

Fort Hare Hit List

His bodyguard was brutally assassinated leaving Fort Hare’s Prof. Buhlungu shaken. But why would a university Vice Chancellor be on an apparent hit list? 

13 Feb 2023 14 min

The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick (13 February 2023)

The news cycle is busy and, at times, overwhelming. Let us help you make sense of local and international headlines every week as Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffejee and Carte Blanche's Masa Kekana sit down every Monday to unpack the biggest talking points, all wrapped up neatly for you…

12 Feb 2023 15 min

Pit Bull Attacks

To ban or not to ban… Pit bulls have become known as some of the most vicious dogs in the country. As the number of attacks continues to rise, we investigate why the legislation regulating the breeding of these canines is lagging behind. 

9 Feb 2023 12 min

Piano Prodigy

At just 16 years old, pianist Mike Wang has a way with keys. So much so that he recently scooped the winning title at the prestigious National Youth Music Competition – and he’s not stopping there.  

8 Feb 2023 9 min

Powerless and Peeved

With no money for diesel, persistent breakdowns, sabotage, and relentless power cuts, Eskom is a crime scene. Now, civil society has had enough and South Africans are pushing back. But could it save the crumbling power utility? 

7 Feb 2023 11 min

Trekking Antarctica

Fossil fuels pumped into the atmosphere, rain forests chopped down, wetlands contaminated, and oceans over-fished. Can dire predictions of the earth’s climate future be reversed? We take lessons from Antarctica. 

6 Feb 2023 14 min

The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick (6 February 2023)

The news cycle is busy and, at times, overwhelming. Let us help you make sense of local and international headlines every week as Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffejee and Carte Blanche's Masa Kekana sit down every Monday to unpack the biggest talking points, all wrapped up neatly for you…

5 Feb 2023 15 min

Kannaland's Convicts

The Western Cape’s smallest and poorest municipality has had a merry-go-round of leadership changes in recent years. But the appointment of a convicted child rapist as mayor has sparked moral outrage and calls for electoral reform. 

1 Feb 2023 12 min

The Art of Neglect

The Johannesburg Art Gallery boasts an impressive collection of over 10 000 artworks from early Dutch masters to contemporary African works. But they’re rotting away in a derelict storage room… 

31 Jan 2023 12 min

Boksburg Blast

More than sixty minutes… That’s how much time the police, fire department and emergency services had to help avert a disaster. But as the clock ticked on, no one came to help. With 40 people dead in the horrific Boksburg tanker explosion, could this tragedy have been avoided? 

30 Jan 2023 15 min

The WholeWeek Wrap with Daily Maverick (30 January 2023)

The news cycle is busy and, at times, overwhelming. Let us help you make sense of local and international headlines every week as Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffejee and Carte Blanche's Masa Kekana sit down every Monday to unpack the biggest talking points, all wrapped up neatly for you…

29 Jan 2023 17 min