Please note: this an extended 90-minute broadcast
Snake Park
Situated next to one of the world’s largest mine dumps, Snake Park near Soweto, is a community in distress with an unusually high number of Cerebral Palsy, respiratory diseases and inexplicable deformities in animals. With a growing body of evidence linking toxic dust in mine dumps to various illnesses in nearby communities, it appears environmental issues are to blame for these and other medical conditions. The circumstantial evidence is compelling, but there are still no empirical studies to make conclusive links. Carte Blanche searches for answers.
Producers: Anna-Maria van Niekerk and Sinethemba Nogude
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Goldman Girls
The new nuclear deal pushed by former President Jacob Zuma would have been the largest procurement ever undertaken in South Africa. It was supposed to be transparent and affordable, but it was neither, as the Department of Energy drove the process in secret. But two small NGOs, Earthlife Africa and SAFCEI refused to accept that the trillion rand procurement was a done deal. Leading their campaign, were two activists forged in the struggle, Makoma Lekalakala and Liziwe Mcdaid. This week they received the international Goldman prize for stopping the State’s nuclear procurement in its tracks.
Producer: Joy Summers
Presenter: Devi Sankaree Govender
Kidnapping Spree
Kidnapping wealthy business owners is fast becoming the latest money-making operation for brutal, crime syndicates who demand multi-million rand ransoms. While it appears highly organized syndicates are behind the big ransom kidnappings, there are also smaller or amateur groups carrying out “copy-cat” kidnappings. But as kidnappers become more daring and sophisticated, it gets increasingly difficult for police to make a breakthrough in any of the cases. Carte Blanche investigates the modus operandi behind a spate of kidnappings that has gripped the South African Muslim Indian community.
Producer: Nicky Troll
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
On Top Of The World
The effects of global warming are very real, but nowhere are they more evident than in Greenland. The ice sheet in Greenland holds 8% of the world’s fresh water, but with rising temperatures, the ancient glaciers are crumbling and its vast ice cap melting. The consequences for the rest of the world could be devastating but for those living on the once icy island, it’s a welcome development. Drought, brushfires and warm water fish have become the new normal and the farming and fishing industries are booming. Greenland’s waters are attracting more tuna, so much so that this now accounts for up to a quarter of the island’s exports.
Producer: ABC Australia
Please note: Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change. Stories can be viewed at www.carteblanche.co.za.