Carte Blanche (TV series)

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Carte Blanche
Carte Blanche Logo 2018
Presented byDerek Watts
Macfarlane Moleli
Claire Mawisa
John Webb
Country of originSouth Africa
Production
ProducerCombined Artists
Original release
NetworkM-Net
Release1988 (1988) –
present (present)

Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net during prime time viewing on Sunday nights, currently at 19:00. It was launched in 1988[1] and has since earned credibility amongst South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues and current events. The series also has received numerous awards.

History[edit]

Carte Blanche began its broadcast in 1988, anchored by Derek Watts and Ruda Landman. Landman left the show in 2007; the same year Bongani Bingwa became a presenter.

In January 2010, two spinoff series, Carte Blanche Medical and Carte Blanche Consumer, began. Carte Blanche Medical premiered on 18 January 2010 and was anchored by Bongani Bingwa, while Carte Blanche Consumer, premiering on 24 January 2010, was anchored by Devi Sankaree Govender. Both series, which ran for four seasons, were cancelled in 2011. Shortly thereafter, on 24 January 2011, Carte Blanche Extra launched, but was cancelled after only airing 10 episodes.[2]

To celebrate 25 years on air on 1 September 2013, Carte Blanche broadcast from the Telkom Joburg Tower in Hillbrow, closed to the public in 1981 during a state of emergency.[3] A book Carte Blanche 25: The Stories Behind the Stories was published, looking at memorable moments behind the scenes of South Africa's longest running current affairs show.

A Carte Blanche channel featuring coverage of the Trial of Oscar Pistorius was launched on DStv on 2 March 2014.[4]

Presenters[edit]

  • Derek Watts (1988–2023)
  • Devi Sankaree Govender (2002–2020)
  • Claire Mawisa (2015–)
  • Macfarlane Moleli (2018–)
  • John Webb (2004–)
  • Bongani Bingwa (2007–2018)
  • Ruda Landman (1988–2007)
  • Bonita Nuttall (2007–2015)
  • Masa Kekana (2020-)
  • Erin Marisa Bates (2023-)

Carte Blanche 'Making A Difference' Trust[edit]

To celebrate 20 years on air in 2008, Carte Blanche launched the "Making a Difference" Trust[5] to raise funds for specialised paediatric units in selected state hospitals and several welfare organisations across South Africa. The Trust has undertaken major paediatric ward revitalisation and capital building projects around the country – at two sites in Johannesburg, two in Pretoria, one each in Bloemfontein, Kimberly, East London, Sebokeng and Durban. The tenth hospital currently being assisted is Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town.

Apart from several infrastructural upgrades at two child welfare organisations, the Carte Blanche Making a Difference Trust has in previous years supported feeding schemes and assisted in providing food parcels and managing supplies at Inchanga in KZN and Johannesburg Child Welfare and Johannesburg Parent and Child Counselling Centres in greater Johannesburg and at Hartebeespoort Dam in the North-West province.

Recent awards[edit]

Producer Story Award
The Carte Blanche Making a Difference Trust 2018 Gauteng Premier's Service Excellence Award
Sasha Schwendenwein Dirty Rivers 2017 SA Breweries Environmental Awards – Video Journalist of the Year
Carol Albertyn 2017 SA Breweries Environmental Awards – Merit
Anna-Maria van Niekerk and Marzanne van den Berg 2017 SA Breweries Environmental Awards – Merit
Michael Duffett Doctors' Working Hours 2017 Discovery Health Journalist – Best TV Health Journalism
Anna-Maria van Niekerk Missing Millions 2017 Discovery Health Journalist – Best Television Journalist of the Year
Joy Summers Dying For Water in Madibeng 2016 SAFTA – Best News & Actuality Programme
Joy Summers Eskom Coal Contract 2016 Sanlam Awards: Financial Journalist of the Year, Television

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Carte Blanche: About". Official Website. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  2. ^ "M-Net's signal split: The details". channel24.co.za. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Carte Blanche goes sky high for 25th bday". channel24.co.za. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. ^ "DStv starting an Oscar Pistorius trial TV channel". channel24.co.za. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Carte Blanche MAD Trust".

External links[edit]