Carte Blanche: Hooked by towing – WATCH

The 21 December episode of Carte Blanche delves into the murky realities of South Africa’s towing industry, exposing how a single accident can spiral into a crippling financial ordeal for motorists through mounting storage fees, costly vehicle retrieval, and unexpected repair charges.

While the industry has long faced criticism for predatory practices that leave already distressed drivers stranded and exploited by those meant to assist them, towing associations insist that only a handful of “rotten apples” are to blame.

The investigation questions this defence and asks how ordinary motorists, caught in vulnerable moments, can distinguish between honest operators and rogue tow truck drivers operating with impunity.

Carte Blanche is a South African investigative journalism television series that airs on M-Net every Sunday at 19:00.

Its first episode aired on 21 August 1988 and over the last 34-plus years has earned credibility among South African viewers for its investigation into corruption, consumer issues, and current events.