Coming up on Carte Blanche on M-Net & M-Net HD [101] on Sunday, 1 February 2026 at 19:00
Going to War
A years-long conflict half a world away has cost hundreds of thousands of lives. And now Russia is seeking soldiers much closer to home. Underground recruiters lure mercenaries from vulnerable communities in developing nations to face the drones and gunfire. Amongst their targets: Zimbabwean Uber drivers living and working in Gauteng. They’re promised money, jobs and citizenship. But with little training and no understanding of the war, are they being sent to a certain death on the frontline? Carte Blanche explores the recruitment methods and networks, the impact on families and communities, and asks: Who are the Africans risking everything to fight a foreign war?
Producer: Marion Edmunds
Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
Watch the Trailer
Livestock Lockdown
It’s one of the world’s most contagious livestock diseases, with devastating consequences for food security and livelihoods. So, how did delay become the deadliest part of the outbreak? What began as a series of foot and mouth disease outbreaks has evolved into a national crisis. Livestock sales halted, auctions postponed for months on end, and farmers say they’re in a COVID-style lockdown. Vaccination is the only viable tool – but supply cannot meet demand. Have failures of maintenance, reporting, and authorisation on vaccine imports left farmers powerless and animals suffering? Carte Blanche sits down with Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.
Producer: Anina Peens
Presenter: Masa Kekana
Watch the Trailer
Pollytics
Polly doesn’t want a cracker; Polly wants a parent. In Mbombela, the story of a missing parrot takes flight… and lands in court. A beloved African Grey goes missing for more than a year, but when he reappears, his owner’s relief is short-lived. Another man insists the bird belongs to him. What begins as a touching reunion soon unravels into a full-blown custody case. Whose perch is it really, and what does this fight say about people and their parrot pets?
Producers: Beth Neale & Kate Barry
Carte Blanche: The Podcast
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Please note Carte Blanche line-ups are subject to change.
