Nobel Peace Prize of Former South African President FW de Klerk Stolen
FW de Klerk and his wife Elita. Photo: GCIS (via Carte Blanche)

Home » Carte Blanche on Sunday: Apartheid’s Last President, FW de Klerk

Carte Blanche on Sunday: Apartheid’s Last President, FW de Klerk

“Credited with pulling (South Africa) from the brink of civil war, those who would valorise FW de Klerk argue his political contribution is underappreciated. Others say his hand was forced by shifting global power dynamics.  Whatever his motives as its leader, is it possible to ignore the role he played in a National Party determined […]

Nobel Peace Prize of Former South African President FW de Klerk Stolen
FW de Klerk and his wife Elita. Photo: GCIS (via Carte Blanche)

“Credited with pulling (South Africa) from the brink of civil war, those who would valorise FW de Klerk argue his political contribution is underappreciated. Others say his hand was forced by shifting global power dynamics.  Whatever his motives as its leader, is it possible to ignore the role he played in a National Party determined to see through its plan for grand apartheid?” asks John Webb, Executive Producer of Carte Blanche.

A political figure feted by some, reviled by many.  He ordered the release of Nelson Mandela, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and helped broker South Africa’s transition to democracy in 1994. FW de Klerk has passed away at the age of 85 after a long battle with cancer. As the country continues grappling with the chequered legacy of apartheid’s last president, Carte Blanche reflects on his place in history this Sunday. (Producers: Siniketiwe Hlanze and Sinethemba Nogude | Presenter: Claire Mawisa)

Watch the show overseas on Showmax | Watch in SA on DStv Now

Also on Carte Blanche this Sunday  14 November

 An End to the Liberation Fairy Tale? 

the big break up carte blanche

It was the perfect match: a party that delivered the nation’s liberation, and an electorate hungry for the fruits of freedom. From ’94, election after election gave the ANC comfortable majorities as it continued to enjoy unwavering support, even as the cracks of factionalism began to show. With the vast majority of voters not even bothering to turn up on the day, what does it mean for South Africa’s future? (Producer: Kate Barry | Presenter: Bongani Bingwa) 

Presenter Bongani Bingwa says: “It was a match made in heaven. Post-democracy, the ANC had voters eating out of its hands. What has gone wrong to put the dream marriage now on the rocks?”

Watch the show overseas | Watch in SA on DStv Now

INVESTIGATIONS

Beitbridge Border Bribes  

Beitbridge Border Bribes carte blanche

On the face of it, it costs just a few hundred rands to illegally move goods across the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe. But with hundreds of smugglers operating on either side of the Beitbridge border, it’s a lucrative source of income. South African National Defence Force soldiers patrol the multi-million rand fence between these two countries. So, how is it possible that the smugglers (also called “carriers”) continue to operate so brazenly? In this exclusive investigation, Carte Blanche takes its cameras inside this criminal network to reveal who’s really running this illicit operation. (Producer: Nicky Troll | Presenter: Claire Mawisa)  

Watch the show overseas | Watch in SA on DStv Now

 CULTURE 

A Celebration of Afrikaaps    

A strange dialect for some, but a rich and beautiful language for others: from the playful greeting of ‘haalihaa” to the friendly acknowledgement of “awê”, Afrikaaps is now taking its rightful place as an historical but often denigrated language. And it’s all thanks to the efforts and energy of a new, younger generation of people determined to take it from its Creole roots into the mainstream. (Producer: Carol Albertyn Christie | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli)  

Watch in SA on DStv Now

If you’re overseas – you can watch #CarteBlanche from Tuesdays, and thousands of other popular local South African shows & movies by subscribing to Showmax International now. You can try it FREE for 14 days

Carte Blanche is on M-Net & M-Net HD [101], 14 November 2021 at 19:00 & & again on M-Net Plus 1 [901] at 20:00

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