Cold Courage

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Mhlengi Gwala was an avid cyclist and a professional athlete. But one early morning in 2018, his entire life changed. Three assailants pulled him from his bicycle and attempted to saw off his leg with a chainsaw. They cut through meat and bone, leaving the limb barely attached to his body. Then, as suddenly as the attack began, his attackers disappeared into the darkness. Doctors managed to save his leg and Mhlengi bravely fought back to full recovery – only to lose his leg to infection two years later. Desperate to fulfil his dreams of becoming a champion triathlete, Mhlengi had to start all over again – this time, learning how to walk with one leg before he could swim, run and cycle. Now, he has set his sights on the Paris Paralympic Games later this year. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟮 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. It was an ambitious climb into uncharted territory. A treacherous 15-day ascent on the icy slopes of Mount Putha Hiunchuli in the Himalayas. But a determined group of South Africans, aptly nicknamed the Madswimmers, were undeterred in their mission to complete the highest altitude swim ever recorded. The team – made up of people with no experience climbing steep mountains – faced harsh icy conditions, battled wind and snow, and navigated dangerous crevasses that threatened to collapse beneath them. Their reward? A three-minute-long dip in chillingly cold water to set a new world record. Carte Blanche travelled to Kathmandu to meet up with the Madswimmers. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟰 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. Boitumelo and Tumelo are 20-year-old fraternal twins who share a close bond. But until last year, they had been separated from each other for ten years. In 2013, after the deaths of their parents, the twins were sent to live with different family members in different countries. Boitumelo struggled for years to find her brother, while Tumelo’s life spiralled into darkness. Then fate and a desperate search on social media intervened, bringing the twins back together. In a remarkable story of courage and determination, Carte Blanche explores how they were finally reunited. Find more exclusive content on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯. In South Africa, the safety of those who speak out against corruption and other types of malfeasance cannot be guaranteed. Nor can the extent to which they’re often ostracised and isolated be guarded against. Whistleblowers are often harassed, demoted or dismissed from work; they risk financial ruin, psychological trauma and, in some cases, they even pay with their lives. But despite the challenges, whistleblowers continue to display immense courage, standing up against injustice when no one else will stand with them. It’s a gap now being filled by the Whistleblower House, an online platform offering a range of supports, including legal and financial advice, to those who sacrifice so much in the name of accountability and justice. Carte Blanche meets the people behind this cause. Your favourite episodes are now available on Carte Blanche: The Podcast: https://linktr.ee/carteblanchetv