“Ahead of our story on the latest TikTok fad, I asked our team what an appropriate age is for girls to start wearing make-up. As a dad to two daughters, it’s a question that has vexed me for some time. I settled on ‘around about the time they start dating’ as a reasonable answer, and remain hopeful that moment comes in their early 30s.” – John Webb, Executive Producer
30 June 2026
For weeks, tensions have built. Bus terminals filled with foreign nationals returning home rather than face the threat of violence. Crowded camps filled with illegal immigrants fearing for their lives. A multimillion-rand police operation enlisting hundreds of thousands of private security guards. Now, a threatened deadline for undocumented immigrants has arrived. We’re on the ground in Johannesburg and Durban to revisit scenes of chaos and fear, track protests and potential violence, and ask: is our nation destined to be shaped by anger, misinformation and fear?
Producers: Kate Barry & Carol Albertyn Christie | Presenter: Govan Whittles
Little Faces, Big Pressure
Social media is reshaping childhood – and changing how tweens live in their own skin. Immersed in skincare trends and “Get Ready With Me” reels, is it any wonder that preteen girls become obsessed with “correcting” their skin? But dermatologists warn that elaborate skincare routines and products designed for adult skin come at a cost. And as peer pressure and the need for online validation grow, does the damage extend more than skin-deep?
Producer: Annalise Lubbe | Presenter: Erin Bates
Missing Lifeline
It’s intended to offer a life raft to distressed businesses; instead, it’s accused of failing employers and employees alike. The Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) is a multibillion-rand state-run fund established to help distressed businesses pay staff salaries while they recover. The theory is sound, but the reality doesn’t match up. Sources allege stalled applications, outdated records, staff resignations, and a mounting backlog. Meanwhile, businesses approved for relief fail because the money arrives too late… or not at all.
Producer: Marion Edmunds | Presenter: Lourensa Eckard
Passion in Action
In a remote corner of KwaZulu-Natal, a unique partnership is thriving. It’s home to the descendants of King Shaka Zulu – and to a herd of elephants once saved by a conservationist with a passion for elephants. When the herd outgrew the reserve, traditional leaders made an extraordinary offer. We return to a reserve we first visited two decades ago, to witness how cooperation has built a future for wildlife and community alike.
Producers: Mart-Marie Faure & Stenette Grosskopf | Presenter: Macfarlane Moleli
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