Coming up on
Carte Blanche this Sunday (20 March 2011):
PTSDA group of police officers plan to sue the State for refusing to allow them to be medically boarded for post traumatic stress disorder. They say, despite ongoing psychiatric treatment and the need for critically essential medication, they’ve been dismissed, suspended, victimised or denied occupational injury leave.
Carte Blanche finds out more about this planned class action.
Producer: Susan Puren
Presenter: Devi Sankaree Govender
PelargoniumFor hundreds of years, the pelargonium plant, which grows in abundance in parts of South Africa, has been used to treat respiratory infections. It’s called “umckaloabo” in Zulu, which means “heavy cough”.
Harvested in the Eastern Cape, it is the active ingredient in one of Germany’s top-selling medicines. But is this legal - and how come local people feel they aren’t being compensated? Carte Blanche reports on what some are calling "bio-piracy".
Producers: Victoria Baux & Georgina Andre
Plastic MillionairesRemember the outcry back in 2004 when we heard we’d have to pay for plastic shopping bags? Now it’s second nature - you either take your own shopping bag, or pay an extra 35 cents or so at the till.
But ever wondered what happens to that plastic bag levy and if it’s being put to good use? Carte Blanche finds out if the environment is benefiting and, if not, who is?
Producer: Liz Fish
Presenter: Devi Sankaree Govender
Healing Wings15 years ago, South African Ruth Strimling was just a needle away from a drug overdose. At the same time, heroin addict Acacio Viera was languishing in an Angolan jail. But somehow they made it to rehab, and so began a remarkable story of recovery and hope.
Carte Blanche visited them at their unusual rehab centre in Mozambique.
Producer: Garth Lucas
Presenter: Chantal Rutter
Carte Blanche is on M-Net on Sundays at 19h00.