Last month Carte Blanche featured a segment on the ‘Hoppers of Biblical Proportions’ that have plagued parts of South Africa (watch below), and as the newer videos on this page show, these enormous swarms of locusts are not letting up. A local farmer estimates there are billions of them. And the government isn’t doing anything […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Top African lender Standard Bank has ruled out funding all new coal-fired power plants and most oil-fired plants as part of plans to reach net zero-emissions by 2050, but campaigners said it could still do more to cut emissions. More financial services firms are setting net-zero targets to combat global warming but […]

“I am tired of appealing. I am tired of trying to ask nicely. What does it take to get action????” asks an extremely frustrated and concerned KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) resident and tourism business owner, Megan Bedingham, who discovered today that one of the main roads connecting the Free State and KZN is likely to close, due […]

Power utility Eskom has warned that the power system remains under constraint despite having recovered sufficiently to suspend all load shedding. Eskom brought load shedding to a halt on Sunday evening following a tumultuous week for the energy giant where it lost at least 20 000MW of generation capacity – forcing it to implement the more […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa’s civil aviation regulator grounded Comair’s planes indefinitely on Sunday over unresolved safety issues, in a move that also affects low-cost airline Kulula and British Airways, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded… writes Wendell Roelf. A spokesperson for the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said it had extended a 24-hour […]

“Sex education was a hot topic in our various editorial meetings this week,” says Carte Blanche, Executive Producer John Webb. “Should the government dictate how and when our kids learn about the birds and the bees, or are parents best placed to decide what’s appropriate? Controversial enough, but as is so often the case in […]

The cryptocurrency markets have been very lucrative for the right traders, those who are willing to ride all of the volatility that comes with the market. The cryptocurrency markets have been going through a massive change over the last several years, as they have been maturing. From the early days of Bitcoin trading, we have […]

Due to further failures of generation units, Stage 4 load shedding (power cuts) is now being implemented in South Africa until 05:00 on Friday, in order to manage the emergency reserves. Eskom said in a statement on Wednesday morning: “It is with a great deal of disappointment that Eskom has to inform the public that […]

The South African start-up scene is developing rapidly in these years, and this is something that is being noticed. A new global report states that South Africa is now one of the top 50 countries with the most developed start-up ecosystem. The new report states that South Africa once again has the most developed start-up […]

Breakdowns and shut downs at Eskom’s power stations have led to the implementation of Stage 2 ‘load shedding’ (in plain terms – power cuts) around South Africa. UPDATE: The loadshedding will continue until 05h00 on Saturday.  Eskom said in a statement at midday on Tuesday: “Due to the unreliability of the generators, and to prevent […]

Cape fur seals are washing up dead on the Cape Coast in South Africa, with instances of up to 80 seal carcasses found along the coast (although witnesses say they’ve personally counted more than 200 in one go). This week current affairs programme Carte Blanche investigates what could be the cause of the mass seal […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed experienced prosecutor Advocate Andrea Johnson as the head of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate (NPA ID). Johnson’s appointment was announced on Monday following the resignation of former head Advocate Hermione Cronje in December last year. The President said Johnson will lead the ID into a new phase – building […]

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, has announced that the price of petrol and diesel are expected to increase at the beginning of March. The fuel prices for March are expected to increase as follows: Both grades of petrol are expected to increase by at least R1.46. The price of 0.05% Sulphur Diesel is […]

Eastern Cape tourism relies on the influx of sun worshipers and water sports enthusiasts to East London’s white beaches and the Nahoon Estuary Nature Reserve. So, why are ageing pipes and broken pump stations leaking sewage (which stinks!) into this tourist treasure? Carte Blanche investigates… “It’s unbelievable to imagine that we are in one of […]

When Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables his maiden Budget Speech today, all the focus will be on his proposals to bolster the health of the public purse, and what that will mean to the taxpayer’s pocket. Godongwana said during the Medium-Term Budget in November that gross tax revenues are expected to exceed the estimates presented […]

Dear Minister of Transport, Mr Mbalula; SANRAL, Mr Macozoma; MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mr Harcharan; and all interested parties… writes tourism business owner in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Megan in this open letter. I love South Africa and have recently had the privilege of travelling through the country a little. It’s a huge […]

For retail forex traders, MetaTrader4 (MT4) is by far the most popular platform. The MT4 platform is available on the websites of over 95% of forex brokers. It is one of the most comprehensive trading platforms available, with several features, indicators, and other tools. However, the MT4 platform was not designed in this manner from […]

When trading currencies, or the foreign exchange market, it is important to find a reputable broker to do so with. There is a litany of decisions to be made, some of which are a matter of safety, while others are simply a matter of preference. As a South African trader, you will certainly want to […]

Operation Dudula – a Soweto-born movement consisting of SA citizens reportedly targeting foreign traders and alleged criminals – is spreading the call to #PutSouthAfricansFirst. Meanwhile, politicians also point to foreigners as the cause of the country’s hardships. Tonight Carte Blanche investigates with “mind blowing” insights. You can watch the show on Sunday 20 February in […]

HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa (Reuters) – One of the joys of artisanal gin-making is sniffing the fragrant botanicals, fruits and seeds used to create the aromatic spirit – but not usually after they’ve passed through the digestive tract of an elephant! Yet that is exactly what Les Ansley does when, foraging through the South African wilderness, […]

Reuters – A consortium of investors including South African World Cup-winning Springbok rugby captain, Francois Pienaar, has completed a £32-million (approx. R650-million) takeover of Saracens, the English Premiership club announced. Pienaar is a former Saracens rugby player. The club, which is based in North London, is popular with South Africans abroad, and are five-time Premiership […]

Leva Foundation, in Gqeberha, in partnership with Nelson Mandela University (NMU) and AWS in Communities, are on a mission to reach 10,000 learners with coding. Coding 4 Youth was launched on ENCA this past weekend. Watch below. The initiative, which runs from now until the end of March, aims to get more youth into the […]

Farmers and manufacturers in South Africa’s North West province are being encouraged to apply for hemp permits, in order to participate in the growing hemp industry and alleviate poverty… an opportunity which the province’s Agriculture MEC describes as “low hanging fruit”. Just last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address […]

The City of Tshwane continues its mission to receive payment for numerous outstanding electricity bills totalling millions, with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and SA Police Service (SAPS) Headquarters being the latest in a number of companies and organisations that are being targeted in the City’s ‘no fear, no favour’ campaign. With both SARS […]

As Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts says: “It’s the South African paradox – we are against seismic testing for oil around our coastline, but also not keen on buying electric vehicles. The decade ahead is going to prove how green we are prepared to be.” Marine Biologist, Dr Simon Elwen insists more research is needed […]