Sunday Times Politics Weekly: Recent Episodes
TimesLIVE Podcasts
The weekly political show by top journalists of the Sunday Times discussing the week's biggest stories, toughest topics in a tight and guided conversation.
An Arena Holdings Production.
Keywords: podcast, travel, vacation, destination, hotel, wildlife, resort, flights, travel news, budget travel
Helen Zille is back on the campaign trail — this time aiming to become mayor of Johannesburg.The former Western Cape premier and long-time Democratic Alliance (DA) leader says South Africa’s economic hub can be turned around after years of instability, corruption and failing infrastructure.In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, Zille speaks to Sunday Times deputy edior Mike Siluma about her plans for Johannesburg, why she believes coalition governments have failed the city, and whether the DA can defeat the ANC in the upcoming local elections.She also discusses tackling organised crime, enforcing immigration laws, the role of metro police and the political lessons voters should draw from years of coalition instability. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Johannesburg is South Africa’s economic engine but it is also battling infrastructure decay, water shortages, collapsing inner-city buildings and fragile coalition politics.ActionSA leader and newly announced mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly to outline his plan to fix the city.Mashaba reflects on his previous tenure as mayor (2016–2019), what he believes went wrong after his departure, and what he would do differently if elected again. Host Mike Siluma speaks to Mashaba about whether Johannesburg can realistically be turned around and how. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
The Democratic Alliance faces a pivotal moment following John Steenhuisen’s decision not to seek re-election. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, host Mike Siluma speaks with political analyst Khanyi Magubane and veteran journalist Peter Bruce about the internal tensions that shaped Steenhuisen’s departure, the party’s challenges in balancing government roles and opposition and what the DA’s future might look like as South Africa heads into election season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Cyril Ramaphosa remains one of the most skilful politicians in the ANC, analysts say, despite party turmoil. His ability to manage the Government of National Unity (GNU) and counter critics has kept him firmly in power, at least for now.Leadership decisions are heavily influenced by party power brokers and the intellectual capital that once guided its strategy has largely dissipated.Susan Booysen says: “He survived quite a few assaults and he’s countering the GNU critics quite consistently. Playing the renewal cards very clearly as if the fact that the ANC has dipped below 50% has not happened under his rule — that was one that we’ve totally overlooked — and how he’s really made the coalition and GNU as if this is a great achievement.”Bongani Ngqulunga adds that Ramaphosa has often been underestimated. “He’s a lot more skilful politician than sometimes we give him credit for. It is not in the interest of the contenders — those who want to succeed him — to see him leave right now. I don’t think we have someone powerful enough in the ANC to cobble together a coalition that could make that person [president].” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
As South Africa hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend, business leader and G20 Sherpa Prof Bonang Mohale says the world’s focus should extend far beyond the drama surrounding US President Donald Trump’s expected absence.Mohale, who served as South Africa’s G20 negotiator (“Sherpa”), argues that the summit represents a pivotal opportunity for South Africa to reassert itself economically and diplomatically.Mohale says Trump’s hostility towards South Africa must be understood within a bigger global context, rather than as a personal or bilateral dispute.“Trump 1.0 demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that the president of the United States is against anything that is woke, progressive. He’s a racist, he’s against women, against Muslims, against people who prefer the same gender,” Mohale said.“If the facts don’t favour him, he manufactures his own. He’s a bully. He believes in the currency of tariffs: ‘I get my way or else’.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu sits down with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma to reflect on his political journey from the ANCYL to the EFF, why he broke with Julius Malema, and the fallout from his stint in the MK Party. He responds to lingering questions about the VBS scandal, his meeting with Bushiri, and his expulsion from MK, while unpacking what “total freedom and emancipation” means under Mayibuye. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane sits down with Mike Siluma to discuss how the Catholic Church shaped her political awakening, why she believes the DA is destabilising the GNU and why Jacob Zuma’s breakaway to form MK was “an act of betrayal.” She also opens up about her personal journey and whether she’s ready to run for ANC president. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
The launch of the national dialogue has reignited debate about whether the process can genuinely help fix the country’s problems or it is just another stage to advance elite interests.Political analyst and Public Affairs Research Institute executive director Dr Sithembile Mbete says dialogue has been a recurring theme in South Africa’s democratic journey.“It comes from this idea that we are so fractured as a nation across political, racial and class lines and that we somehow need to talk to each other to find a solution,” she explains.She likens the initiative to “post-conflict negotiations” but warns that dialogue without a clear end goal risks becoming hollow. “We should always ask: what is the outcome supposed to be?”Arena Holdings editor-at-large S’thembiso Msomi agrees, saying South Africans have long felt that “what we have is not enough”.“Clearly there’s general unhappiness about where South Africa is going,” he says.Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Long standing NEC member Dr Malusi Gigaga has hit out at the party arguing that it is yet to start fulfilling its ambition to renew itself Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald wants inmates to grow food, make clothing, bake bread and work in factories to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of rand and promote rehabilitation.“All [prison] uniforms are produced by inmates. All the furniture in my offices — Cape Town and Pretoria — has been manufactured by inmates, so it's much cheaper,” Groenewald said.Though the furniture predates his appointment in 2024, Groenewald believes it reflects the sort of cost-cutting, skills-development approach he wants to entrench and expand throughout the prisons system.Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Soon-to-be acting police minister Firoz Cachalia has questioned KwaZulu-Natal police chief Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s decision to bypass reporting lines, but says rules can sometimes be an obstacle. In an exclusive Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast interview, Cachalia said he was “surprised and shocked” by Mkhwanazi’s bombshell remarks, which implicated police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya — both of whom have now been placed on leave.Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
Protesting in South Africa comes at a price, sometimes a deadly one. From Sharpeville to today’s crackdowns, the state’s response to dissent has often been force, not dialogue. As the country marks Human Rights Day, the question remains: Why does standing up for basic rights still come with heavy consequences?
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we unpack with experts issues behind police brutality and state repression. Their insights paint a troubling picture of a system where law enforcement is often used to silence dissent rather than protect citizens.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The Sunday Times’ Lizeka Tandwa spoke to Gauteng PTT coordinator Hope Papo about how they intend to turn around the party’s fortunes.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
ANC heavyweight Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disapproval of the government of national unity (GNU), saying that if it had been up to her, the ANC would not have formed a government with the DA.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
ormer president Jacob Zuma has laid out details of an audacious plan to “take back my ANC', by uniting “black” parties under his MK party banner and recapturing the leadership of the party, which he said had “deviated from our ancestors”. He spoke to Sunday Times politics editor Sibongakonke Shoba about various topics, including the formation of the MK Party and his decision not to relinquish his ANC membership.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Former Botswana leader Ian Khama has called on the country’s new president, Duma Boko, to launch an investigation into the ousted Mokgweetsi Masisi’s use of government finances during his period in power. Khama says he feels responsible for the 'dictatorship' that ensued after Masisi took power.
The former president was in conversation with Sunday Times politics reporter, Kgothatso Madisa.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Prof Susan Booysen says the government of national unity (GNU) is a coalition with the DA but the ANC invited other parties to avoid political trouble.
The Wits emeritus professor and independent research consultant explored the survival prospects of the GNU and the changed terrain in which all political parties are having to find their way. She joined Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela believes white racists should be helped to heal so they don’t wound others.
She joined Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma in conversation after she set the cat among the pigeons with a post on her X account suggesting race supremacists need to be helped to heal from their post-transformation trauma.
Madonsela said supremacists need to accept they are not superior to others.
“It's not always just about race though, it's [also] about gender. Anybody who was raised in that just because they look a particular way they deserve more than others in a society based on human rights, social justice and acceptance of equality of all human beings, to them it feels like a loss of a right as opposed to loss of an unmerited privilege.”
White people should not teach black people to deal with their trauma as they would make wrong assumptions. “White people should help other white people to understand that the ‘loss’ is not really a loss as such but changed expectations.”
The topic harms white and black people, said Madonsela. “For everyone’s sake, in the same way that when it comes to gender we say we need to do ‘man work’, we have to do white work and white people have to do white work."
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Just a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa reassured the country he intended to serve a full term in office, ANC Limpopo provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe has come out in support of his continued presidency.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The ANC Youth League secretary-general has warned South Africa is on the brink of a revolution that will see young people rise up against white South Africans if the economy continues to be in the red.Mntuwoxolo Ngudle spoke to TimesLIVE Premium on the state of the economy, accusing the private sector of “treason” for failing to transform the economy.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
At the age of just 32 and with a possibly illustrious political career ahead of him, acting ANC national spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi admits that the prospect of inheriting a dying party keeps him up at night.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A few months ago Eskom was the black sheep of public opinion, but last month we reported that the utility recorded its highest energy generation levels in six years.
It’s not out of the woods yet — chairperson Mteto Nyati says they will execute remaining aspects of Eskom’s recovery plan.
Nyati shares the formula they used to rescue Eskom from the brink of collapse.
Two years ago the president roped him in to help save the power utility. Nyati speaks about the plans they implemented to get to where there is no load-shedding for at least 160 consecutive days, the longest period in a while. He, however, is reluctant to say load-shedding has ended.
Load-shedding reached its peak in 2022 and last year to beginning of this year.
The utility regularly receives financial bailouts from government. Nyati says that will soon end because Eskom will stand on its own feet.
“We are saving from last year. Already in this financial year which start[ed] on 1st of April we have saved R10bn on last year.”
He talks to our digital politics editor, Lizeka Tandwa, in this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly about the criticality of the leadership change in the company, which included appointing Dan Marokane as CEO and the importance of the executives’ relationship with him.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi outlines promising economic plans that will “break the backbone of unemployment” like expanding Gautrain for residents and plans to make Gauteng a world class province the government o provincial unity has for the province.
Lesufi warns the ANC is a sinking ship and speaks on the government of national unity.
He exclusively speaks to Sunday Times political journalist Kgothatso Madisa a day after he delivered his state of the province address. Lesufi says “we can’t have everyone coming here [Gauteng]”
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has launched a disciplinary process against three senior party leaders implicated in the Zondo state capture report: Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo and Cedric Frolick.
After the formation of the government of national unity, the DA has emerged as an important player in the alliance. The party's federal chairperson Helen Zille opens up on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast about the considerations of the architecture of the GNU and her relationship with some of the ANC's top executives. She also speaks about issues such as racism, service delivery, the economy and crime.
Zille, 73, a former journalist at the Rand Daily Mail who exposed the apartheid police cover-up of Chris Hani’s assassination, also opens up about how she transitioned from journalism to politics.
Besides being a wife, she is a mother and a grandmother. She talks about how politics has affected her life.
Production by: Bulelani Nonyukela.
In this episode TimesLIVE digital politics editor Lizeka Tandwa talks to COSATU president Zingiswa Losi about the formation and the SACP stance on the government of national unity, the ANC’s path of renewal, and the party’s drop in the election results.
ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe tells Sunday Times politics editor Sibongakonke Shoba that DA federal chair Helen Zille will collapse the government of unity.
“We are not going to have a parallel government run by Helen Zille. There’s one president here and that president is President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Production by: Bulelani Nonyukela.
Political analyst Dr Sithembile Mbete and Lizeka Tandwa from the SUNDAY TIMES politics team scrutinise and define ANC’s options for governing models such government of national unity; a grand coalition; and a minority government. They also, looking at conflicting party’s ideologies, on the ANC options for coalition partners and what it would mean for South Africa. Tandwa offers us the insights into ANC NEC
South Africa allowed Zimbabwe to be run into the ground, says Mmusi Maimane on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, blaming the government for the influx of Zimbabweans into SA.
“If it wasn’t for the ANC’s policy on the government of national unity when [late former president of Zimbabwe Robert] Mugabe had lost elections we wouldn’t have this influx of Zimbabweans,” says Maimane as he is quizzed by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma.
Zimbabwean citizens fled to SA because of economic turmoil and political violence, among other reasons, in 2007. SA had been a mediator in that country’s political conflict.
According to census figures there were just more than a million Zimbabweans in SA in 2022.
The topic of undocumented migrants is dominating the political agenda in the run-up to the May 29 elections. Maimane proposes borders be secured and foreigners be legalised. He believes he can document foreigners in two years.
Maimane has criteria for foreigners wanting to become citizens: learn SA's laws, speak South African languages and don’t set up your own community in SA.
That’s just the tip of the wide-ranging conversation with Maimane in this instalment of the podcast. Maimane talks about a grand coalition of opposition parties; parties he can work with; solutions to crime, saying localised policing, metro police and private police should be merged; and the controversial National Health Insurance which he says is populist and timed for the election.
Don't take our word for it — listen, and share your views.
The DA should have burnt the ANC flag instead of the national flag, says ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba says in a wide-ranging interview on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast.
The party stirred controversy earlier this week when it launched its election campaign advertisement showing the national flag in flames. The DA has defended the advert, with federal chair Helen Zille saying the alternative to being rescued is dying. The party’s election slogan is “Unite to rescue South Africa”.
Asked about his ambitions, Mashaba said: “Being president of the country or being a premier are the last jobs I want, but I am committed to finding a solution to our country’s problems.”
He said he blames former president Thabo Mbeki for many of the country’s problems, saying his advice proved to be “disastrous” and “he’s got the experience of destroying”.
Mashaba told podcast host Mike Siluma that ActionSA has proposed renaming eThekwini after the late Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
He also discussed his party’s plans for economic recovery and immigration.
Listen and share your views.
Anele Mda, an independent candidate vying for a seat in parliament, says political parties will be chasing after independents but she won’t work with any party. She is our guest on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma.
We kick-start the conversation by asking her why it was important to publicly rebuke the IEC for not displaying her photo during the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Eastern Cape-born Mda tells us how she was bitten by the politics bug as a child and about her journey in politics.
She is a former ANC member and founding member of COPE.
In a significant milestone in our democracy independent candidates have a seat at the table with established political parties for the first time in the country’s history to contest elections.
“We are the ones who will set the agenda. Political parties will be the ones running after us, not the other way around,” she says.
Mda says she is not planning not to become entangled with any political party.
She also took swipe at some parties. “Imagine having to sit in the ANC in this day and age and lie and say there’s a good story to tell? What good story to tell? Imagine being in the DA and sit there and lie and say there’s a whole intentional embrace of Africans in the DA … Imagine me going to an EFF where I am going to be led by a demagogue that does not respect any woman leader … Imagine me going to Rise Mzansi, sitting there and acting as though ’no we’re an honest new political party that is not aligned’. Who funds you?” she said.
More is covered in detail in the conversation. Listen, subscribe for free and share with your circle.
One of the big election stories has been the Jacob Zuma factor and his uMkhonto weSizwe Party.
According to polls and by-election results, the party has outshone parties such as the EFF and the IFP.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explain and hopefully demystify the Zuma/MKP phenomenon in our politics, and how it might impact our body politic after May 29.
Our guests this time are Sanusha Naidu, senior research associate with the Institute for Global Dialogue, and Susan Booysen, visiting Wits professor.
We hear on the podcast that Zuma feels wronged by corruption allegations against him and is out for revenge against his successor President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Booysen tells us the MKP is a revenge party that will wreak havoc on the ANC, and it could damage it much more than it has so far. Booysen explains which parties the MKP is taking votes from, and if polls and by-elections are good predictors of the May 29 election results.
Naidu says Zuma’s purpose is about vindicating himself because he did not finish his second term. On the party’s court battles with the IEC, Naidu says, “I get the sense we’ll have to deal with security now more than ever before in this election”.
There are a lot more interesting perspectives from our panellists who are hosted by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma. Listen and share your views.
Mike Siluma sits down with Election expert Ebrahim Fakir to discuss the upcoming South African elections and what you need to know from how they work, to how they are calculated and what you need to do!
Veteran trade union leader Zwelinzima Vavi has had his setbacks, but the “tragic mistake” he is still kicking himself for was to support Jacob Zuma in becoming president of the ANC and the republic.
The only mistake, and the biggest mistake, is that I was convinced by some members of both Cosatu and the SACP that the then deputy president of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, was going to be good for the agenda of the working class and therefore we must rally workers behind him.”
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, politics reporter Sisanda Mbolekwa is joined by Saftu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi to unpack a variety of issues, including the state of trade unions in the country, his views on South Africa’s political landscape, the upcoming general elections and what it will take to fix some of the biggest crises facing the country.
South Africa’s position in the Israel-Hamas war has further strained relations between Pretoria and the Israeli government, culminating this week in the withdrawal of our country’s diplomats from Israel.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we explore the issues at the heart of the disagreement between the countries, and why South Africa is supporting the cause of the Palestinians.
Our guests are Garth le Pere, visiting professor at the University of Pretoria, and Dr Lubna Nadvi, who teaches politics at UKZN.
The two kick us off by explaining the historical relationship between the ANC (by extension the current government) and Palestinians and the history of the war.
Nadvi, analysing the significance of the recalling our diplomats from Israel, argues the decision was inevitable and says the real test will be when South Africa shuts the Israeli embassy.
The war has displaced more than 2-million people in Gaza and the deaths of nearly 11,000 Palestinians.
Nadvi’s teaching areas include international relations, Middle Eastern politics and peace studies while Le Pere is an executive director at the Institute for Global Dialogue. His areas of interest include international relations, South African foreign policy and the politics of the Middle East.
Producer: Bulelani Nonyukela.
This week police arrested Dudu Myeni, the former chairperson of SAA and an associate of ex-president Jacob Zuma on fraud and corruption charges – charges arising from benefits she allegedly received from Bosasa, the defunct company implicated in state capture.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at the state’s underwhelming track record in bringing to book individuals accused of complicity in state capture during the Jacob Zuma presidency.
Chief justice Raymond Zondo, who chaired the inquiry, made 205 recommendations on criminal investigations and possible prosecution of people and companies compromised in state capture.
Our guests this time are Thanduxolo Jika (Sunday Times investigations journalist) and political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng and the debate is stimulating.
Producer: Bulelani Nonyukela.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly we delve into the controversial legacy of IFP founder and prime minister to the Zulu nation Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who died at the weekend at the age of 95.
Buthelezi's legacy has been the centre of debate in recent days after his passing, with some labelling him a “warmonger”, a catalyst for violence and a prop or ally of the apartheid government.
On the other hand, his defenders have labelled him an iconic political figure and a struggle icon. The EFF's Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, speaking during a memorial service held in Buthelezi’s honour in Ulundi on Wednesday, said he was “a man of peace”.
Our host, deputy editor of the Sunday Times Mike Siluma, is joined by Dr Bongani Ngqulunga, academic, author and director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Johannesburg, and academic researcher and violence monitor Mary de Haas.
They assess the complexities of Buthelezi's story, his role in the violent past of South Africa, the fairness of this depiction and the impact this played on his political mileage. They also unpack his relationship with the apartheid government, and between the IFP with ANC then and going forward.
Sunday Times Politics Weekly is a TimesLIVE production.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics weekly, Sunday Times Politics Editor Sibongakonke Shoba sat down with Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald, one of the parties for the proposed ‘moonshot’ pact alliance. Asked if he thought the country was ready for a white president, Groenewald said: ‘No. We’re too close to apartheid still’.
Groenewald also spoke on working dynamics of multiparty coalitions, redressing the inequalities of South Africa’s past, and what he thought of DA leader John Steenhuisen.
This week on the Sunday Times politics Weekly we shine the spotlight on the prospects of the Zimbabwe elections.
Our panellists on the podcast are prominent Zimbabwean scholar professor Ibbo Mandaza and Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena representing Zimbabwe Community in South Africa organisation. The two assess what the elections mean and the role of the Southern Africa region in turning the country around.
Next month, on August 23, Zimbabweans head to the polls to choose from a dozen candidates vying to be the county’s next president. The main contest is between Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, who seeks a second term and Nelson Chamisa, of the new Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The guests are pessimistic about what the elections hold. As the Brics summit approaches next month in South Africa, Mabhena says Zimbabwe must benefit from Brics programmes. Mandaza says “there can be no solution to the Zimbabwean crisis without South Africa” but SA leaders should be informed about the Zimbabwe.
The host is Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and the producer is Bulelani Nonyukela.
Recently elected ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji joins 'Sunday Times Politics Weekly' to assess South Africa's politics and the role of young people and what he stands for.
He was elected unopposed earlier this month after an eight-year leadership void in the ANCYL.
Episode hosted by Sunday Times political reporter Sisanda Mbolekwa and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.
Since his appointment, there has been keen interest to better understand where Deputy president Paul Mashatile stands on national issues.
In this episode of the Politics Weekly, Mashatile sat down with Sunday Times' Sibongakonke Shoba, Kgothatso Madisa and Caiphus Kgosana for a wide ranging conversation including among other things his view on the country's just transition to green and renewable energy, the basic income grant and the now non-attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Other topics of discussion include the ANC's plans to regain the majority vote in the 2024 general elections, recent claims to oust Mashatile from office and his contentious relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Our guests on the ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly’ are pessimistic about the plan hatched by DA leader John Steenhuisen to unseat the ANC.
This week Steenhuisen announced that six opposition parties would hold a national convention aimed at ousting the ANC in the next elections.
The so-called “Moonshot Pact” was first mooted by the DA at its congress in April. Besides the DA, the parties which have signed on for the convention are the IFP, Freedom Front Plus, Action SA, United Independent Movement and Spectrum National Party.
In this episode of the Politics Weekly, we explore the Moonshot Pact’s chances of success.
On our panel this time are political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng and Wayne Sussman (election analyst).
Listen and share your views.
Joburg speaker Colleen Makhubele talks to Sunday Times Politics Weekly about politics, her ambition to lead COPE, being fired on national TV and more.
She joined Sunday Times journalist Sisanda Mbolekwa in studio on the podcast and talked about the calibre of leaders in Johannesburg and mayor Kabelo Gwamanda.
Unisa’s Prof Everisto Benyera counts what South Africa loses for its stance in the Russia-Ukraine war. He, in part, specialises in peace-building and mediation.
Last week, African leaders led by President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook a mediation mission to Ukraine and Russia in the latest bid to end the war in Ukraine.
That mission received a mixed reaction, with some deriding it as Ramaphosa’s ploy to change negative international perceptions about SA’s non-aligned stance.
Benyera tells our Sunday Times Politics Weekly host, deputy editor Mike Siluma, that the intervention was “historic at many levels” and explains the two ways the peace mission ought to be measured. He weighs in on SA's “diplomatic gravitas” on the African continent and in the international arena.
Others supported the mission, arguing that Africa needed to do something about a war that was harming it. The question is: was the African mission all worth it? Could it change the course of the war?
Benyera is a professor of African politics in the department of political science at Unisa.
In a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly’, EFF leader Julius Malema shared his views on the upcoming elections, and possible coalition permutations. Malema says he won’t join any coalition in which Cyril Ramaphosa or John Steenhuisen are potential presidents. However, he did speak of his willingness to work with deputy president, Paul Mashatile, whom he acknowledged he had a soft spot for.
Malema also addressed the willingness of the party to accept former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule who, like himself, had been expelled from the party.
Malema also reflected among other things on: the party’s overall growth ahead of their 10 anniversary celebrations in July, his stance on the impending visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the recent passing of the NHI Bill, corruption allegations levelled against him, his past actions and their impact on how the public see him, and the party’s views of the commemoration of Youth Day in the present day.
The episode is hosted by Sunday Times political editor Sibongakonke Shoba, and produced by Demi Buzo.
A public spat has recently broken out between King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and his prime minister, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, over control of the Ingonyama Trust. The trust controls large tracts of land in KwaZulu-Natal — about 2.8-million hectares — on behalf of the Zulu kingdom.
Sunday Times journalist Zimasa Matiwane, who has been following the story, and UKZN academic Dr Mphumeleli Ngidi, who teaches history, explain the origin of the dispute.
Reports that suggest the dispute in the royal Zulu house could lead to violence is not an overstatement, we hear on Sunday Times Politics Weekly.
In a wide-ranging conversation with ‘Sunday Times Politics Weekly’, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula speaks on the ANC, his predecessor, Ace Magashule, who faces possible expulsion from the party, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mbalula reflected on his tenure as party SG and assessed the ruling party under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa. He said voter frustration gave him the impression support for the ruling party could be as low as 30% ahead of next year's general elections, but says the party has not discussed coalitions.
The episode is hosted by Sunday Times reporter Kgothatso Madisa, and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.
The cholera outbreak in Tshwane has again put the spotlight on the crisis in local government negatively impacting service delivery to citizens.
Local government is often regarded as the coalface at which the state delivers citizens’ basic needs. But what is their recourse when it fails to do so, as is the case in much of the country?
To explore the matter, we are joined on Sunday Times Politics Weekly by Dr Sithembile Mbete, a lecturer in the department of political sciences at the University of Pretoria and an associate fellow at its Centre for Governance Innovation, and Sandile Swana, a political analyst and governance expert.
Mass deportation of illegal foreigners, death penalty, cancelling race — some of the (things) Gayton McKenzie says he will do when he becomes president.
In a robust conversation on the Sunday Times Politics weekly with the Patriotic Alliance leader, McKenzie says he knows he will become SA president and laid down his objectives which “are all anti-SA constitution”, which he labelled as hypocritical.
“I know I’m gonna be the president of this country and God will come back to South Africa.”
McKenzie spoke on being a gang leader and how his life transformed through God.
The former mayor of the Central Karoo District blames illegal foreigners for all SA’s problems and wants everyone to walk around with identification.
On the podcast he elaborated on the six things he stands for which are:
1. Bring God back to schools: “God will come back to South Africa”
2. National service, conscription: “military”
3. Mass deportation of illegal foreigners: “all our problems stem from illegal foreigners. They will leave.”
4. Bring back the death penalty: “you kill, I kill you”
5. Stop exportation of our unrefined minerals: “we shall get the maximum benefit from our minerals”
6. Cancel race: “how long are white kids gonna pay for the sins of their grandparents?”
Current coalition governments, notably in the big metros, have been characterised by instability and infighting, in which the PA has been an important player. He explained why he withdrew from contesting for the Joburg mayor position as he could not assure his coalition partners on what they wanted him to stand for and how he changed support for former Joburg mayor Thapelo Amad as he was “faced with facts”.
He says the PA is open to coalition with any political party next year as it wants power like any other party, and says one of the options next year after elections include the PA deciding who will be president.
He joined in studio Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma and producer Bulelani Nonyukela for a vigorous conversation.
Amid the ICC arrest warrant, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit has been intensely debated in the ANC NEC.
SA was also naive for not making provisions to protect itself when it joined the International Criminal Court.
We hear from our guests on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this week.
Previously, we discussed the dilemma faced by our government after the ICC’s issuing of an arrest warrant for Putin, who is due to attend the Brics summit in Durban in August.
Since then the problem has become more acute. The government is still scrambling for a solution as the clock ticks by. This week the issue boiled down to whether SA should leave the ICC.
The broader question is whether our foreign policy has completely lost its way.
Sunday Times presidential correspondent Amanda Khoza gives us insights into the NEC considerations on Putin’s visit, while UJ professor Sphamandla Zondi shares expert analysis on SA’s dilemma.
Amid continuing uncertainty in the leadership of metros in Gauteng, ActionSA has tabled motions of no-confidence against the current mayor Thapelo Amad and speaker of Johannesburg, Colleen Makhubele.
To talk about what seems like a drastic step, and other issues afflicting party coalitions as well as ActionSA's way forward going into the 2024 elections, host Mike Siluma is joined by ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont.
Our country has been placed in a quandary after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin which compels SA, as a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, to arrest him if he visits South Africa.
International relations minister Naledi Pandor has said Russian is an old, historic friend which supported the fight against apartheid. Putin is expected to visit South Africa in August to attend a Brics summit and the country has been ordered to arrest him over alleged atrocities in the Ukraine war. South Africa has remained neutral in the war but is now obliged to arrest the head of a co-member state.
That’s the acute dilemma discussed on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast with UJ’s Prof Sphamandla Zondi and Wits University's Prof William Gumede, who help us unpack the ICC’s power, consequences for honouring or dishonouring the warrant, the possible ways SA can get out of the awkward situation, and other issues.
This week on the Politics Weekly we reflect on the public protector’s leaked preliminary report, which seems to have exonerated President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal. We also look at public accountability of our judges, and why it seems to take so long to bring them to book when they stray.
Joining us for this episode of the Politics Weekly is Franny Rabkin (Sunday Times legal correspondent) and Dr Fikile Vilakazi (who teaches politics at the University of the Western Cape).
The long-awaited public protector Kholeka Gcaleka’s report on Phala Phala has largely cleared president Ramaphosa, while heaping most of the blame for the debacle on his head of protection services, Maj-Gen Wally Rhoode. The panel discuss the report and other agencies inquiring on the Farmgate saga.
Rabkin enlightens us on the legal aspects of the report and others inquiring about the robbery at president’s farm, while Vilakazi gives a political assessment.
The discussion concludes with the panel inspecting retired arms deal inquiry judges Willie Seriti and Hendricks Musi’s predicament as they challenge the constitutionality of the Judicial Service Act.
The recent cabinet reshuffle was not intended to address South Africa's crises but to satisfy ANC factions. And Gwede Mantashe and Pravin Gordhan will call the shots regarding electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
The two ministers, Mantashe (energy) and Gordhan (public enterprises), might overpower the new electricity minister who was brought in to deal with the ongoing load-shedding crisis.
The president moved incompetent ministers around to make party factions happy, therefore undermining performance.
Those are some of the arguments in Sunday Times Politics Weekly this week as Prof William Gumede of Wits School of Governance joins host Mike Siluma.
Ramaphosa finally made the much-anticipated changes, including appointing Paul Mashatile as deputy president, on Monday night, but Gumede says the president missed some great opportunities. He believes Mashatile has one foot in the Presidency, as Ramaphosa may not finish his term.
Guilty players castigating former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter expose their lack of commitment to solve corruption crisis, argued Lawson Naidoo and Wayne Duvenhage on the 'Sunday Times Politics weekly'.
De Ruyter made claims of how corruption brought the power utility to its knees. The ANC party has challenged him to provide proof to back up his allegations, failing which, it says, it will take legal action. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also challenged De Ruyter to prove his claims.
Naidoo, executive secretary at the Council for the Advancement of the Constitution and the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse CEO Duvenhage help us unpack the extent of corruption in our country touching on De Ruyter’s claims and what can be done to turn the tide.
The latest crime stats indicate that, despite government’s promises to contain it, crime is getting worse, posing a threat to the country and its people — that’s the focus of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast this week.
The head of justice & violence prevention at the Institute for Security Studies, Gareth Newham, spoke on crime patterns and trends in the country while giving his expert view of the violence and proposing solutions.
Renowned political analyst Asanda Ngoasheng analysed the seriousness of politicians in combating the brutality and weighed in on what fruits it will reap in the 2024 elections at the polls. While Ngoasheng acknowledges it is good to point fingers at leadership she says society must also reflect on itself.
The two insightful guests join Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma on this instalment of the podcast in a captivating conversation.
The latest local authority elections have been hailed as an indicator of the rapidly waning influence of the ANC. But they also gave us a foretaste of what life might be like under a national coalition government. To date, that foretaste has at times been sweet, and at other times rancid and desperately wanting.
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at the phenomenon of coalitions and how they might affect our lives in future. Are they a progressive step towards accountability, or an unmitigated disaster?
The weekly political show by top journalists of the Sunday Times discussing the week's biggest stories, toughest topics in a tight and guided conversation.
An Arena Holdings Production.
Keywords: podcast, travel, vacation, destination, hotel, wildlife, resort, flights, travel news, budget travel
The weekly political show by top journalists of the Sunday Times discussing the week's biggest stories, toughest topics in a tight and guided conversation.
An Arena Holdings Production.
Keywords: podcast, travel, vacation, destination, hotel, wildlife, resort, flights, travel news, budget travel
On Sunday Times Politics Weekly, Zweli Mkhize chats about what he will do if he is elected ANC president at the party's elective conference this weekend, Digital Vibes corruption allegations and the growing support he has received since being nominated.
The former health minister received 916 nominations for the position, while his rival, President Cyril Ramaphosa, received 2,037. However, Mkhize says after engagements with ANC branches, all indications are that he has “huge support”.
He also touches on where the ANC's focus should be, state capture, nationalisation of the Reserve Bank, the formation of a state bank and the energy crisis.
The much-anticipated ANC national conference takes place next week at Nasrec in Johannesburg. Apart from providing policy direction for the organisation, one of the key tasks of the conference will be to choose a new party leadership. But unfortunately for the party, none of its nominated leaders join the fray without the lingering stink of scandal and accusation.
In today’s episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at key individuals who have been proposed by ANC branches for leadership, who may also end up as the country’s leadership, and unpack some of the controversy and allegations surrounding the top names. Joining our host Mike Siluma, are Associate Professor at the School of Governance at Wits University William Gumede and Sunday Times politics writer Zimasa Matiwane.
Pule Mabe joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly to reflect on his tenure as ANC spokesperson, speaks about contesting for a top 6 position, competition, dubious cadres and party electoral decline.
Mabe is running for the position of treasurer-general alongside presidency special adviser Benjamin Chauke, who received 552 nominations, and recently resigned ANC Ekurhuleni councillor Mzwandile Masina, who received 348 nominations. Mabe was in second position with 428 nominations.
Mabe says he is not moved by competition but his own dubious cadres. He does not believe in candidates with no credentials.
“You can buy branches to nominate you but not credentials,” says Mabe when he speak about names on ballots who he believes don’t have organisational “literature”.
Mabe says when the party elects its new leadership next month, comrades must ask if they can trust candidates who cannot be located in the history of the party’s revolution.
He echoes sentiments of other party comrades who say the party will die if there is no change.
Public enterprises deputy minister Phumulo Masualle, chatting to Sunday Times Politics Weekly, says some candidates for the ANC top six don’t deserve support.
He motivates why President Cyril Ramaphosa's time in office has expired and rallies behind former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Ramaphosa and Mkhize are the only candidates running for presidency next month when the party elects new leadership.
Masualle has received most support for his bid to be the next ANC secretary-general from KwaZulu-Natal, while most of his home province, the Eastern Cape, supports former KZN secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli.
He prides himself on his “absolute” integrity and says he does not have sleepless nights over “shady dealings” during his tenure as Eastern Cape premier. Masualle alleges people tried to tarnish his name by depositing funds meant for former president Nelson Mandela's funeral into his personal bank account. Reports suggest the amount deposited was R250,000.
He reflects on his leadership legacy in the Eastern Cape.
Podcast hosted by Mawande AmaShabalala, production by Bulelani Nonyukela.
ANC “top six” contender Mdumiseni Ntuli spoke to Sunday Times Politics Weekly.
He assesses the governing party and speaks about “lies” he found himself embroiled in with former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala, including plotting to have former president Jacob Zuma incarcerated.
Ntuli is running for the secretary-general position. He is confident he will receive the support of most provinces at the December elective conference and is prepared to declare his financial statements.
He says the ANC will have no future if its leadership is not changed.
Ntuli, now former ANC KwaZulu-Natal secretary, also speaks about “negative campaigns” against him before the 2017 conference at Nasrec.
He joins the host of the episode, Kgothatso Madisa.
Production by Bulelani Nonyukela.
Paul Mashatile hosted the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team at his home to chat, rolling up his sleeves to be “hands on deck” if elected ANC deputy president next month.
He is ANC treasurer-general and speaks about his rise to the position. The governing party will elect its new leadership at its elective conference from December 16 to 20 and Mashatile has been nominated for deputy president, along with Ronald Lamola, Mmamoloko Kubayi, Senzo Mchunu, Phumulo Masualle and Oscar Mabuyane, among others.
South Africa has been hit hard by load-shedding this year, but Mashatile said solutions are being implemented and load-shedding will end, but it needs the private sector to come on board.
The host of the special edition of the podcast is Sunday Times journalist Kgothatso Madisa, produced by Bulelani Nonyukela.
ANC deputy secretary-general hopeful Nomvula Mokonyane opens up to Sunday Times Politics weekly about dirty politics, why she is contesting and corruption-accused Bosasa.
She is hoping to win an ANC secretary-general position when the party holds its elective conference next month.
The former environmental affairs minister hosts Kgothatso Madisa at her home and reflects on her relationship with late ANC acting secretary-general and anti-apartheid activist Jessie Yasmin Duarte.
Mokonyane describes herself as a community activist and wants the party’s headquarters, Luthuli House, to be a vibrant house full of activists.
ANC deputy president hopeful Ronald Lamola talks to Sunday Times Politics Weekly about his personal life and politics.
In conversation with special edition host Kgothatso Madisa from his home, Lamola focuses on his life before politics and what he can offer should he pin down the position.
The ruling party is expected to hold its national elective conference next month, at which its new top six leaders will be elected. Nominations close on Monday.
The justice and correctional services minister says Cyril Ramaphosa should return as president as he has rebuilt SOEs and laid a foundation for the ANC's renewal.
Recent political events in coalition-run municipalities have cast doubt on the viability of such governments. A prime example is Johannesburg, whose mayor Mpho Phalatse and speaker Vasco da Gama were removed last month after no-confidence motions.
Phalatse was ousted by an ANC-led coalition that included the EFF and Patriotic Alliance (PA).
Sunday Times Politics Weekly hosts the mayor, who has since been reinstated and says she still believes in coalitions, but that the ANC bloc is focused on corruption.
On the possibility of being voted out again, Phalatse says anything is possible in politics, but tough as it may be, she is not bowing out of it.
While many taxpayers struggle to make ends meet, ministers and their deputies — who earn a salary of between R2.5 and R2m a year — do not pay a cent for municipal services such as water and electricity at their official residences.
City Press reported that the ministerial handbook has been amended to remove a cap on municipal utilities for ministers and deputy ministers. According to the previous handbook, the public works department was responsible for providing water and electricity, provided the cost is limited to R5,000 per month.
In this enthralling debate our panel discusses the contentious issue of the renumeration regime for public office bearers, notably cabinet ministers. Is the amount ministers are paid reasonable, in light of their role? Are they performing well enough to deserve the remuneration and perks they are given? And is the amount they are compensated considered market competitive?
This week, our host Mike Siluma, is joined by Dr. Mark Bussin, Chairperson at 21st Century (Pty) Ltd, Reuben Maleka, Acting Deputy GM with Public Servants Association of South Africa and Mawande AmaShabalala senior Sunday Times journalist.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we discuss what has been happening in Gauteng’s metros of Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, caught up by coalition government infighting. We also take a look at the latest in the ANC’s leadership race ahead of the parties national conference in December.
Our host Mike Siluma is joined by Sunday Times Politics editor, Sibongakonke Shoba and Sunday Times Politics writer, Mawande AmaShabalala.
The panel discusses how coalitions in the three metros have been faring considering that they seem to have more problems, especially instability, than solutions, where the shortfalls of this governance model arise, how it has impacted on governance and service delivery to their residents, and if they are an unavoidable governance model for the country. They also unpack the top contenders in the ANC’s much contested leadership race, what positions are they vying for, what these contenders stand for and how they fare in comparison to their predecessors.
Mpho Makwana, the new chair of Eskom, has backed incumbent CEO Andre de Ruyter and set his sights on bringing down the price of electricity by reducing the cost of coal supplied to its plants while also improving the quality of the fuel it receives.
In an interview with Business Times this week, Makwana spoke about the link between Eskom’s climate commitments and the cost of coal supplied to the company. The vast majority of Eskom’s power-generating plants are fired by coal — most of them have outdated, less efficient emission-filtration systems — and the state-owned company has come under particular scrutiny in light of SA’s global commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
“The reality is that we will have to fulfil our climate-change reduction commitments in line with what the country is capable of delivering, given where we are,” Makwana said.
One of SA’s advantages, he pointed out, was that “the quality of our coal is low in sulphur content”.
Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we give you a sneak-peak into our discussion with veteran business leader Mpho Makwana, who is Eskom’s new chairperson.
Makwana gives us insight into his perspectives on Eskom and the seemingly insurmountable energy crisis the country faces. Having worked at the utility before, Makwana says he is lucky to benefit from institutional knowledge and hopes to restore the utility to it's - once award winning - "legacy".
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we discuss the politics which has historically shaped, and which continues to shape SA's energy crisis.
Our host, Mike Siluma is joined by Prof Mark Swilling chair of the Development Bank of Southern Africa and professor at Stellenbosch University and Prof Mazwe Majola, CEO of the Worldwide Institute of Leadership.
The panel discusses the factors that have caused Eskom to become the monumental failure it is, while comparing its past performance. They explore the factors that got us here, why the situation continues to decline, where are the shortfalls are, what can be done to rectify the who the responsible parties are and who is needed to pull us out of the current crisis.
By all indications, the ANC’s leadership succession race well underway. This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we assess the likely effectiveness of the party’s new campaign rules, which, on the surface, seek to improve the quality of its leadership.
We will also look at the leadership candidates that have emerged so far, and what these rules mean for their various campaigns. Are the new rules truly transformative and are they enough to claw back the ANC's reputation ahead of its December elective conference and more importantly, ahead of the 2024 elections?
For this week’s conversation, our host Mike Siluma is joined by Sunday Times politics writer Mawande AmaShabalala and political analyst Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast.
He left office more than four years ago but former president Jacob Zuma has remained a feature in SA's political and public life.
This week the Pietermaritzburg high court gave VBS Mutual Bank permission to seize Zuma’s assets to repay a loan of nearly R7m relating to the refurbishment of his Nkandla homestead.This follows his pending corruption trial and a separate court case on whether he should return to prison after being controversially released on parole by former prisons boss and supporter Arthur Fraser.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we discuss the “Zuma phenomenon”.
Is it possible or even advisable to hold Zuma accountable before court? How has Zuma managed to have so much influence in SA? Should he face rearrest, will SA experience another 2021 July unrest scenario?
These are some topics discussed by host Mike Siluma and his panel — Sunday Times political writer Mawande AmaShabalala and independent political analyst Prince Mashele.
Last week one of the more influential countries in East Africa, Kenya went to the polls to choose a new president. And, not for the first time, the outcome sparked controversy as current vice-president William Ruto narrowly defeated long-time campaigner Raila Odinga.
Odinga, who lost the August 9 presidential elections by a tiny margin, rejected the outcome of the vote and vowed to take constitutional steps to challenge it.
Odinga, 77, who was making his fifth run at the presidency and secured 48.9% of the vote to deputy president William Ruto’s 50.5%, said the head of the electoral commission didn’t follow due process, rendering the results declared “null and void”.
The dispute and delay in the swearing-in of the new president poses a risk to political stability in East Africa’s largest economy.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we unpack the significance of the result and its implications for the region and the continent, we are joined by Sunday Times correspondent Carien du Plessis and Associate Professor of International Relations and Political Sciences at the University of Johannesburg David Monyae.
In March this year President Cyril Ramaphosa legally recognised Prince Misuzulu ka Zwelithini as the king-elect of the Zulu people, following the death last year of long-reigning King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu. But subsequent events around the Zulu royal household suggest that the president’s decision does not enjoy universal support.
The Zulu royal household this week condemned an alleged planned entering of the cattle kraal (ukungena esibayeni) ceremony by Prince Simakade Zulu kaZwelithini set for this Saturday.
The ceremony is reportedly taking place just days before the same ceremony will be held for Prince Misuzulu kaZwelithini.Simakade is the late King Goodwill Zwelithini's first son, born out of wedlock. He was allocated a home within Zwelithini's palaces.
However, Zulu prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the event is illegal and a “foolish provocation”.
To talk about the rift, as well as the position of traditional authorities in a democratic dispensation, our host Mike Siluma is joined by lecturer in Public Policy and Political Science at UKZN Dr Fikile Vilakazi, and political correspondent for the Sunday Times Zimasa Matiwane.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly we look at the strained relationship between SA and its neighbours due to an influx of foreigners accused of crime.
Recent cases include the gang rape of eight women in Krugersdorp, which has been blamed on illegal foreign miners, and Eswatini spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo's comment that “South Africa is infested with a cancer of criminality from head to toe”.
Clayson Monyela, deputy director-general for public diplomacy, said Nxumalo had insulted South Africans.
Monyela joins host Mike Siluma to discuss these issues.
Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at one of most important events on this year’s political calendar – the ANC’s policy conference, which is in preparation for the organisation’s national conference in December.
Hypothetically, if the proposals of the policy conference are adopted in December, they should feed into government policy and impact directly your life and mine.
The question is whether the ANC is attuned to the problems faced by the country – or whether its leaders are living in a leadership bubble? Most analysts and commentators predict that the 'step-aside' policy, which requires ANC members charged with serious crimes to recuse themselves from their posts within 30-days or be forcefully removed, will steal the limelight this weekend. The so called 'step-aside' issue, is suggested as being a yardstick with which to gauge President Ramaphosa's support base within the ANC, ahead of the all important December leadership conference. In this episode we consider the significance of the ANC's policy conference in 2022, what we are expecting from the conference, the significance of the step-aside policy and what this all means for Ramaphosa and the country.
Joining our host,Mike Siluma, to discuss these critical issues is Sunday Times political reporter Kgothatso Madisa, as well as Associate Professor at the School of Governance, Wits University William Gumede.
This weekend, the ANC in KwaZulu Natal holds its provincial conference, as part of the build up to the all-important ANC national Conference in December, which will, among other things choose a new leader for the organisation – and by extension, the new leader of the country.
On the Politics Weekly this time we look at the significance of the conference, and also at the key players and factions squaring up. We consider important questions such as what kind of support is president Cyril Ramaphosa likely to receive, the hold former president Jacob Zuma has over the area and the framing of KZN's political landscape in 2022.
As the nation mourns the deaths of 21 people in three separate shooting incidents at various taverns at the weekend, the silence around gun control in SA's political arena is coming to the fore. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime released late last year, found that SA has an estimated 2.35-million illegal firearms in circulation. Most of these weapons become instruments of violent crime and come directly from state departments and domestic homes.
Host Mike Siluma holds a gun-control conversation with Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime researcher Jenni Irish-Qhobosheane, Gun Free SA representative and former SAPS commander Jeremy Vearey and firearms legal expert Martin Hood
With the work of the State Capture Commission finally concluded, this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly is set aside for a one-on-one with the catalyst for the commission, former public protector who recommended the establishment of a commission into state capture Professor Thuli Madonsela.
Madonsela opens up to our host, Mike Siluma, about the importance of whistle-blowers in protecting the integrity of our democracy, why she feels amnesty should be given to certain enablers of state capture, what Ramphosa ought to have done about the ‘Farmgate’ scandal and more.
In today’s instalment of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s predicament, in the wake of the scandal over a burglary on his Phala Phala farm two years ago. The scandal was set off by the laying of charges including bribery, kidnapping and money laundering, among others. The controversy which has been dubbed 'Farmgate', 'Mattressgate' or even 'Dollargate', now threatens to topple the ANC.
In this episode we consider the likelihood of President Ramaphosa's political career being able to withstand the proverbial storm. We also consider the implications the scandal has had on the inner dynamics of the ANC and the trust voters have in the party.
For today’s conversation, our host Mike Siluma, is joined by Sunday Times Political Reporter Kgothatso Madisa, lecturer in Public Policy and Political Science at UKZN Dr Fikile Vilakazi, as well as Associate Professor at the School of Governance, Wits University William Gumede.
This week the country was abuzz with the news that the villains of the state capture story in SA, the Gupta brothers, had been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pending extradition to SA.
In this weeks episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we ask how soon they might be brought back to SA – and whether the country is ripe to be captured again by other nefarious interests?
Our host Mike Siluma is joined by Sunday Times investigative reporter Thanduxolo Jika, political analyst and Unisa politics lecturer Prof Dirk Kotze, as well as author and professor of political theory at Wits University Prof Lawrence Hamilton.
This week the former head of the State Security Agency Arthur Fraser dropped what looked like a political bombshell – laying criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
According to a statement released by Fraser, he has pressed criminal charges against President Ramaphosa which include defeating the ends of justice, torture, kidnapping and bribery.
However, the presidency quickly rebutted these claims saying that while a robbery did take place at his farm in Limpopo on or around February 9 2020 in which proceeds from the sale of game were stolen, Ramaphosa rejects claims that he was involved in any criminal conduct over the theft of millions of dollars at his farm in 2020.
Ramaphosa holds that he was attending an AU summit in Addis Ababa at the time the incident occurred. He claims that the allegations are simply a disinformation campaign.
On this week's episodes of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we consider who Arthur Fraser is in our political landscape, why he might make these claims now, who might gain from a 'disinformation campaign', why Ramaphosa might keep such a large amount of cash on a farm and the political implications for SA should Ramaphosa be made to step aside. J
Embattled former health minister Zweli Mkhize used his son’s wedding, over the weekend, as a mini rally to launch his bid to unseat President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s national conference in December this year.
A group of Zulu regiments, along with controversial former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu, took turns to endorse his campaign at his homestead in Willowfontein, Pietermaritzburg. This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at the question of ethnicity or tribalism in SA politics, particularly in the ruling ANC. Of course, we’ll also discuss the danger it poses to nation building.
Our host Mike Siluma, is joined by lecturer in Public Policy and Political Science at UKZN Dr Fikile Vilakazi, as well as Sunday Times Politics Editor Sibongakonke Shoba to unpack this important issue.
Despite the end of apartheid 28 years ago, racial incidents continue to be reported in SA's schools with increased regularity, according to South African Human Rights Commission's (SAHRC) Commissioner Andre Gaum.
In this episode of the Politics Weekly, we ask what sustains racism in our society, and how we can fight it more effectively. Joining our host, Mike Siluma, to frame this discussion are Gaum, social commentator and author of Run Racist Run, Eusebius McKaiser and lecturer of Public Policy and Political Science at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Dr Fikile Vilakazi.
Gaum explains that the most recent SAHRC statistics compiled from various incident reports shows a distinct and worrisome year-on-year increase in occurrences of human rights violations. He explains that violation within schools and institutions of higher learning, related to sexual orientation and race, are of particular concern. Only this week a white student, Theuns du Toit, was suspended from Stellenbosch University for urinating on the belongings of a black fellow student, Babalo Ndwayana's, belongings. Ndwayana claimed the incident was racially motivated based on comments made by du Toit during the event. At the same institution, a student was verbally abused for asking for an Indian song at a dance.
McKaiser, Vilakazi and Mike discuss the tumultuous race relations still experienced by South Africans, how our historical handling of white supremacy has failed our society and what SA should do to undo the trauma caused by whiteness and a sense of superiority and exceptionalism that often leads to outrageous displays of racism in our everyday lives and institutions.
Last week the Commission into State Capture, led by chief justice Raymond Zondo delivered its fourth report into state capture. So, in this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we reflect on the outcomes of the commission’s work, and whether SA is a better place after its revelations.
Racial politics and the rise of ethnic pride, are on the agenda for the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, this week.
Recently, a new organisation, purportedly standing for the rights of coloured people, or the 'brown people', as it put it, was announced. It was met with skepticism from many quarters. We looks at the question of group identity, specifically so-called coloured identity, as part of our national conversation.
Joining our host, Mike Siluma, are journalist, academic and author of “Too White to be Coloured, Too Coloured to be Black”, Ismail Lagardien and long-time social and labour activist and former deputy general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers Karl Cloete.
The panel untangles racial politics, the feeling of othering that the coloured community in SA is subject to, the danger or ethnic and racial tribalism and the undeniable decline of nonracialism as a form of popular thinking in SA.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has campaigned on a policy of clean governance, but when it comes to cleaning up the ANC he seems to be all bark and no bite. This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our panel looks at the question of ethics in political and other leadership in society. Why? Because, as you may know, the ANC in Mpumalanga has elected someone who is facing charges of murder — treasurer Mandla Msibi — flying in the face of Ramaphosa’s campaign to clean up the party’s tarnished image. While Ramaphosa had words with the voting delegates during his closing address, little was done to prevent the appointment. In this week's discussion, we ask if it is too much to expect ethical political leadership in SA. Who — if any — of our politicians are for clean governance, and why Ramaphosa would not intervene in an appointment with his own reputation on the line?
Today on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we consider the harm and the need for vigilantly groups, such as Operation Dudula, in modern SA society. Recently, we had a conversation about the challenges of managing immigration in our country, and touched on the activities of organisations such as Operation Dudula, which campaign to give priority to South Africans when it comes to job and business opportunities. Dudula is again in the news, following the arrest of its leader, Nhlanhla 'Lux' Dlamini. his week, we ask whether there is a leadership vacuum in our society, which leaves space for groups like Dudula to flourish. Are vigilantly groups necessary to enforce the law in SA? What dangers accompany vigilantism? What is the difference between citizen policing or a citizens arrest and what Operation Dudula has been doing?
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we are looking at the controversy surrounding our country’s R50m donation to the republic of Cuba, which has been interdicted by the courts.
The panel discusses what our legal and ethical obligations are to allied foreign countries. Can South Africa afford to help others when its own house is not in order? If we do not look to maintain foreign relationship, will our allies still support us when we need aid?
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we talk matters immigration, more specifically the activities of the group calling itself Operation Dudula and the Dulula Movement , which have been campaigning against what they calls 'illegal foreign traders' and the employment of undocumented foreign workers.
This week our host Mike Siuluma is joined by Shenilla Mohamed Executive Director of Amnesty International, Prof Rothney Tshaka Director of the School of Humanity at UNISA, as well as Naledi Shange a Senior Sunday Times journalist, who has been following the Dudula Movement closely.
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we thought we should catch up on the build up to arguably the major political event of the year – the ANC’s elective conference taking place in December.
Among other things, we look at the state of play in the provinces, the lack of skilled leadership within the party, as well as the names of some of the candidates bubbling to the top.
SA’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has divided public opinion. Some felt our response was too tepid, while others supported Pretoria’s call for a negotiated solution. In this week’s episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we explore the government’s rationale, as well options open to it.
Our host, Mike Siluma is joined by Prof Daniel Bradlow from the University of Pretoria and co-editor of the book Values, Interests and Power: South African foreign policy in uncertain times, as well as Caiphus Kgosana the Sunday Times Opinions editor. The panel sits down to discuss SA's standing on the international stage, what indecisive foreign policy does to that standing and where SA should position itself.
In this week’s episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly we are talk about the state of the African National Congress – and how that impacts our national life. This off the back of the assertion by former president Thabo Mbeki that the collapse of the ANC would have dire consequences for the country.
Is he right in that assertion? Or the ANC itself become a threat to the well-being of the country and its people?
In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly we are reflecting on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation address, and asking if we need to maintain an event that seems to be nothing more than a political ritual.
Our host Mike Siluma is joined by UniSA political lecturer Dr Dirk Kotze and Associate Prof with the School of Governance at Wits University William Gumede. The panel concludes that the vision is there politically, but the state simply does not have capacity. They also find that Ramaphosa avoids direct rule or declarations strategically, to avoid putting his head on the political chopping block.
When the majority of a country is “captured” who is left to hold those responsible to account? This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, we’re reflecting on the Zondo commission’s reports so far. Now that we have a clearer understanding of the effects of state capture in SA, our panel asks: who should we be holding accountable and is SA’s justice system up to the task? In this riveting episode our host, Mike Siluma, is joined by political journalist Mawande AmaShabalala and associate professor with the School of Governance at Wits University William Gumede. The panel discusses the likelihood of any action being taken against those implicated in state capture, the political willingness to make heads roll in an ANC leadership election year and whether the commission was money well spent for the country.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we’ll be looking at the ANC’s succession race, which is under way in all but name. Apart from the obvious names, such as President Cyril Ramaphosa and tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu, another name that has come up is that of justice and correctional services minister Ronald Lamola.
This week we consider the “youth factor” in ANC leadership and whether the party should have more young people in its leadership ranks. Is Lamola really jumping the succession queue by wanting to form part of the ANC's top leadership? Where did the idea of queuing originate, and is Lamola really to young to be considered for top leadership, or has the ANC let its youth members down?
SA’s constitution has recently been the subject of much public debate following a critical opinion piece penned by tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we invite one of the leaders who participated in the drafting and adoption of the constitution, struggle veteran, activist and former constitutional development minister, Mohammed Valli Moosa, to share his thoughts. What were the tenets upon which SA’s constitution was based; how much of the document was a compromise to satisfy the old apartheid regime; are the criticisms levelled at it fair; and is the constitution to blame for the pervasive inequality that still exists in South African society?
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we look at President Cyril Ramaphosa's four-nation diplomatic excursion to West Africa. We discuss the significance of the visit, and whether it marks a change in SA’s relations with West Africa, as well as the rest of the continent and even the globe. We discover that the visit marked a change in the attitude of Ramaphosa towards the West in particular, and a unification of African countries.
This week SA has experienced confusion and contention, as a result of coalition talks among our political parties. We have also been following this political tension in the dark, as Eskom has yet again imposed large bouts of loadshedding throughout the country.
This week our panel of experts and journalists provide an update on the state of the ongoing coalition negotiations. This as the political parties are scrambiling to form governments, especially in most of the major metropolitan councils. We also delve into the politics of power generation and Eskom's approach of shedding darkness as opposed to light, as loadshedding resumes this week.
This week on the Sunday Times politics Weekly podcast, our host Mike Siluma is joined by Associate Professor at the WITS School of Governance William Gumede, politics reporter's Kgothatso Madisa and Aphiwe de Klerk to talk coalition progress, after a Watergate local government election. The panel considers the political fallout from the municipal elections, and the horse-trading taking place for control of most of the key metros. The big finding to come out of the discussion, is that most of the public statements made by parties is not reflecting the stances they are taking in negotiations.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our panel delves into some pre-election analysis. Ahead of the polls, we will look at which major cities are likely to fall to coalition governments, and how those coalitions are likely to be structured. After that, we will be looking at the sea change in the ANC, which has seen the return to the political forefront of key leaders, including ex-president Thabo Mbeki. What lies behind this development, and what does it mean for the ANC?
Our big stories on this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly with Mike Siluma include the factors that have affected the 2021 municipal elections so far, including; mounting political killings, empty promises and the seeming eradication of Covid-19 as a health concern at most political rallies. We also try to gauge the temperature inside the ANC, where two of its most powerful leaders, Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Former Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize, are fighting for their political lives, and why they are desperate to clear their names.
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly with Mike Siluma, our learned panel considers the uncertain future of the DA in the wake of controversial election posters which have caused tensions within the party. Insiders suggest this may be a litmus test for party leader John Steenhuisen's future at the helm of the opposition party. Also on our menu this week will be the pressure piling up on Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane after the public protector’s adverse report on him. The panel considers the effect these allegations could have on President Cyril Ramaphosa's future political career as divisions in the party continue to grow.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we try to shed light on the controversy around the Democratic Alliance’s campaign posters in Phoenix, which seemed to endorse racial attacks on black people during the July riots. We try to understand the logic behind the posters themselves and unpack the behind the scenes of the DA's eventual apology and removal of said posters.
Our panel also provides listeners with an update on the search for the country’s new Chief Justice, with the formal departure this week of the incumbent justice Mogoeng Mogoeng.
Joining our regular host, Mike Siluma, this week is Sunday Times legal correspondent Franny Rabkin, executive secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the SA Constitution Lawson Naidoo and Sunday Times parliamentary correspondent Thabo Mokone.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly we discuss the main party election manifestos- who are the three main parties targeting, what are they promising and what is the likely impact on voter participation levels?
Also this week, we take a closer look at the SIU's report on the Digital Vibes scandal and the criticism of the president's handling of the situation along with the valid question - in a country that is supposed to be on a crusade against corruption, how is it no one has been convicted yet?
Our host is Mike Siluma, deputy editor of the Sunday Times along with our guests Amanda Khoza, ST politics writer focusing on the presidency, and William Gumede, associate professor at the Wits School of Governance.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our panel talks about the importance of public institutions, and the responsibility of political leaders, particularly those in the DA, have to support them. Also this week our panel will try to understand what’s going on in the ANC Alliance, following Cosatu’s decision to, again, support the ANC in the municipal elections.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our host Mike Siluma and his all female panel, discuss the culture of violence which has entrenched itself in SA's politics, about which not much is being done. The panel also contemplate the impact of the Covid pandemic on the forthcoming municipal elections, with a particular focus on how it has altered the face of campaigning in the country.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we start our chat by shining the spotlight on one of the most important institutions of our democracy, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC). The IEC has been the subject of controversy because of its handling of preparations for the coming municipal elections. We also try to understand the implications of the medical parole given to former president Jacob Zuma, which has also led to a predictable controversy. The parole frees the former president from jail and allows him to serve the rest of his term at home. This week our host, Mike Siluma, is joined by Ebrahim Fakir, electoral analyst based at the AUWAL Socioeconomic Research Institute, Sibongakonke Shoba, Sunday Times politics editor and Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, political analyst.
This week on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, we unpack the ANC’s electoral crisis, where the party has failed to register local election candidates in a number of localities, some quite important for its performance. With our panel, we’ll try to understand how the party could get things so wrong, after so many years of successful campaigning. After that we’ll look at government’s efforts to extend the SA social security net, and whether we are using the correct mechanisms to address poverty in the country. This off the back of the announcement and withdrawal of Social Development’s green paper on social security retirement.
The group discuss the fate of former president Jacob Zuma, whose foundation is asking for donations from you and I to help service his mounting legal fees. This while SA’s unemployment rate has surged to the highest on a global list of 82 countries monitored by Bloomberg.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we focus on the state of our State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) , which have proven time and time again to be a thorn in the side of SA's tax payers. After that we’ll cast our eye to the other big story of the week, the unpopular election of NC MP Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as the new speaker of the National Assembly.She was elected by 199 MPs, beating DA candidate Annelie Lotriet who received 82 votes. Bound to raise eyebrows are the 17 spoilt ballots, suspected to be from disapproving ANC MPs.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, host Mike Siluma speaks to the head of the ANC’s National Electoral Committee, Kgalema Motlanthe, about the party’s plan to improve the quality of its candidates in the forthcoming local elections. Motlanthe, a former president of the country and deputy president of the ANC, also talked about the importance of local government in our democracy.
Topping our conversation this week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, is the fate of former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. You’ll remember that, despite allegations of impropriety, having come thick and fast against him, he hung on to his position, as if his life depended on it, only to resign yesterday just hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa was set to announce a cabinet reshuffle. What then, we ask, are the dictates of public accountability in SA and why didn't the presidency act again Mkhize earlier? Of course, we also address the other hot political topic of the week – the prolonged absences of deputy president David Mabuza.
*This episode was recorded a few hours before former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize resigned
On this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we will be looking at the increasing calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to reshuffle his cabinet, in light of the state’s rather ham-handed response to the recent looting and unrest, which cost much in terms of lives and damage to our economy. We’ll also be touching on the government’s recently announced economic interventions, to turn things around. This week our host Mike Siluma is joined by political analyst and project manager at Democracy Works Foundation, Nompumelolo Runji, as well as Sunday Times parliamentary correspondent Andisiwe Makinana, to unpack the issues.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we discuss money in our politics, more specifically the high court’s decision to keep sealed the CR17 funding details, information on the funding of Cyril Ramaphosa’s campaign for the ANC presidency. We ask, what is the decision’s affect on transparency and the role of money in our politics?
After that, we’ll try to make sense of the apparent broken telephone in the government’s security cluster in the wake of last week’s rioting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Join our host Mike Siluma and his panel of experts: Dr Sithembile Mbete, senior lecturer of political sciences at the University of Pretoria; Franny Rabkin, Sunday Times legal correspondent; and Sibongakonke Shoba, Sunday Times politics editor, as they unpack SA's complex political landscape.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, there can only be one topic worth delving into; this week we focus all our attention on SA's current looting crisis and how it came about. Was it organised? Is there a political agenda, who may be complicit and would pardoning former president Jacob Zuma escalate or calm the situation?
We delve into all this and much more in this week's episode.
It's arguable that this week has been one of the most important in the political history of democratic South Africa. The arrest of former president Jacob Zuma was seen as a representation of the tussle between the rule of law and the political elite. But what does Zuma's arrest mean for the ANC as a ruling party and political structure. In this week's Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our host Mike Siluma is joined by Wits School of Governance associate prof William Gumede, Sunday Times political correspondent Mawande Amashabalala, and Sunday Times parliamentary correspondent Thabo Mokone. The panel discusses the implications of Zuma's eventual arrest, what it means for our democracy and how it has changed the face of the ANC by all but destroying what was left of the parties RET faction.
Supporters of former president Jacob Zuma fired gunshots in the air as they led a motorcade from Eshowe to his rural homestead of Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal to lend him support on Thursday.
This after a momentous Constitutional Court judgment sentencing him to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we dive head-first into the former president’s sentencing, what kind of threat his supporters pose, what might have led to his decision to disobey a direct court order and his potential underlying motives for refusing to appear before the state capture inquiry.
In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we ask the question: is SA on the brink of becoming a failed state?
We speak to Associate Professor in the School of Governance at Wits University William Gumede, about the state of local governance and the collapse of basic service delivery. The conversation outlines how crucial local governance is to service delivery, job creation, investment and the overall functioning of the country as a whole.
We then turn our attention to Land Expropriation Bill, which is currently the subject of heated debate in parliament. We dissect the issue with our parliamentary correspondent Andisiwe Makinana, who has been tracking the story since its inception
This week's top political stories have revolved around the all mighty Rand. It's no secret that SA's economy has been under strain and it seems that everyone - from paupers to politicians - have been trying to recover.
This week on Sunday Times Politics Weekly we discuss the ruling party's shrinking purse. This after scores of disgruntled staffers took to the streets at the party’s headquarters, Luthuli House in the Johannesburg CBD, on Tuesday to air their grievances over late and unpaid salary payments, provident funds, medical aid and other “unfair” labour practices. What do the ANC's recent money woes mean for the party?
We also discuss the unofficial 'diamond rush' underway in Kwa-Zulu Natal, where more than 1,000 fortune seekers have flocked to the village of KwaHlathi in search of what they believed to be diamonds after a discovery of unidentified stones in the area. Despite the fact that these stones have not been authenticated and that mining them with out proper authorization is illegal, hundreds of desperate South African's have be spending their days trying to gather as many precious rocks as they can.
Another week passes in SA, and with it another Covid-19 corruption allegation rears its ugly head, this time in relation to the mass sanitising of Gauteng schools in 2020.
The presses are still hot with the news of health minister Zweli Mkhize’s special leave over the controversial R150m Digital Vibes contract.
As the country grew accustomed to that news, yet another allegation of fraud and corruption related to SA’s handling of the pandemic has arisen.
In a matter of weeks, the directors of seven companies contracted to decontaminate Gauteng schools during last year’s Covid-19 lockdown blew through more than R40m in a spending spree that included designer watches, jewellery, luxury cars, plastic surgery, investment policies and paying off home loans. In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we confront the latest allegations, and check in with our disgraced health minister.
There can be little doubt that the ANC is currently negotiating its way through a crisis. Consistent infighting, ideological rifts and corruption allegations seem to be the norm for the party. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we consider what it means to be an ANC member, what turmoil in the ANC means for the rest of SA and whether the party has any viable leaders to take them into the future. We also discuss the fiasco that unfolded at the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, where chaos broke out, not over the advancement of our continent, but over power and positions. Should it shut up shop for a while?
The collective noun for politicians is a lie of politician, and given the political week SA has had, it's little wonder why.
From allegations of irregular spending that seem to have tainted health minister Zweli Mkhize illustrious political career, to the the circus around former president Jacob Zuma's corruption trial and finally to the seemingly unending State Capture Commission. No one could be blamed for losing track. In this weeks episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our host Mike Siluma breaks down the biggest political stories of the week with his panel of journalists, experts and analysts.
What you will hear:
(01:41)The government has tabled a revised offer of a 1.5% salary hike and a R978 cash gratuity for a year in a bid to end the stalemate in the public sector wage negotiations. This after almost three months of deadlocked talks at the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council as the state previously insisted on a 0% salary hike and a wage freeze for the next three years — citing a fiscal cliff. This week we consider what impact this decision will have on South Africa's economy and where government will recoup the money they have offered over to unions.
(14:10) The ANC’s current 'cash crunch' and its political implications. Is it possible for the ruling party to function without funds? What could this mean for the ANC's political future?
(19:08) An Update on the, seemly never ending, State Capture Commission. The Commission is due to finalise its interviews next week, but are we in for yet another extension of proceedings?
(01:30) With the National Executive Committee having confirmed ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s suspension, we consider if president Ramaphosa has managed to knocked out Magashule, or if Magashule is just down but not yet out. We consider whether Magashule will apologise for the falsified suspension letter he sent to the president and what this internal conflict means for the future of Luthuli House and the the muster of the ANC constitution. (14:40) In the wake of fractional battles within the ANC, our politics team considers if the party can repair itself without splitting up. In leaked audio, former president Thabo Mbeki suggests that the ideological differences with party cannot be overcome and our analysists feel the same way. (17:20) As the State Capture Commission slowly begins to winddown to a close, the every-day-joe's came to realise that SA's intelligence services have been in the pocket of the powerful. Our dedicated State Capture Commission reporter Mawande Amashabalala unpacks the updates from the past week's testimony. (25:30) Finally the team supplies us with a Zulu royal succession update. Can South Africa expect a new king and a new era, or is the country still going to bare witness to infighting within the royal AmaZulu family over the coveted throne?
SA has had a dramatic political week.In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team guides you through the ins and outs of SA’s biggest political news stories of the week. (01:56) The latest updates from the state capture inquiry, including Lucky Montana’s funding allegations against the ANC. We discuss what the allegations by the former CEO of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA mean for political funding in the country. (13:05) We take a deep dive into the step-aside issue and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s suspension. We consider what the saga indicates about fractional battles within the ANC and the strength of Ramaphosa heading into the weekend’s national executive committee meeting.
SA has had a dramatic political week. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team guides you through the ins and outs of SA's biggest political news stories of the week.
(01:14) The conversation begins with the Sunday Times politics team dissecting President Ramaphosa's responses before the State Capture Commission. The team considers if Ramaphosa did enough to prevent state corruption during his time as Deputy President and what his action tell us about him as a leader.
(19:09) The team also discusses the controversial 'step-aside' issue brewing within the ANC. They consider what might become of ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, now that his grace period has lapsed. Will he step-aside peacefully or attempt to test the issue further?
(22:34) Finally, spurred on by recent allegations of misrepresentation within the DA, the team asks how important it is for political leaders to receive a higher education or form of training.
SA has had a dramatic political week. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team guides you through the ins and outs of SA's biggest political news stories of the week.
(01:09) The latest updates from the state capture commission, including the brazen burglary of the state capture inquiry administration offices in Parktown, where one computer and a monitor screen were taken. Is the robbery a gambit to derail the work of the commission?
(12:18) Former president Jacob Zuma's legal problems mount by the day. Lawyers acting for Zuma in his corruption trial due to start next month filed a formal notice of withdrawal in the Pietermaritzburg high court on Wednesday. Reasons have not been given but we speculate as to what the reasons might be.
(19:46) While former president Jacob Zuma seems to have lost popularity, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule seems to be more popular than ever, as his supporters fight to keep him in the ANC. We discuss the ongoing step-aside issue and consider who might be left in the ANC if the step-aside rule is enacted.
SA has had a dramatic political week. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team guides you through the ins and outs of SA's biggest political news stories of the week.
(01:28) The latest updates from the state capture commission, including the failure of the estranged wife of former finance minister Malusi Gigaba, Norma Mngoma, to appear before the commission.
(09:59) KwaZulu-Natal judge Dhaya Pillay's need to defend her private financial investments, her “friendship” with Pravin Gordhan and a lunch she had with Jacob Zuma at his homestead in Nkandla during her interview with the Judicial Service Commission on Tuesday.
(26:50) How comfortable should President Cyril Ramaphosa feel in his post, with the likes of Ace Magashule or Jessie Duarte in the post of ANC secretary-general?
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we bring you an exciting interview between our host Mike Siluma and convicted former ANC councillor Andile Lungisa.Former ANC Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Lungisa was recently released from jail on parole. His release has angered many South Africans who took to social media to call out the ruling party for “wasting taxpayers' money”.
In this episode, Lungisa talks to us about the incident that lead to his conviction, his time in jail and his plans going forward. He also defends his recent warning to President Cyril Ramaphosa to halt attacks on former president Jacob Zuma to preserve "national unity".
Tensions in the trucking industry have reached boiling point after a 45-year-old truck driver was shot and killed on Monday night, the latest in a string of attacks that has seen at least 30 trucks targeted in the past week.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out against the carnage on SA's roads as truck drivers and companies have come under attack amid a spate of vehicle hijackings and protests by those calling for the removal of foreign truck drivers.
In today's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team considers if there are any merits to this kind of protest and what implications these protests have for the political structure of the country.
In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team, dive head-first into the topics of former President Jacob Zuma and his attempt to get Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo to recuse himself.
They also consider what Shepard Bushiri's flee to his native country means for the future of his case and the country's politics.
In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team, with the help of commissioner Andre Gaum of the SA Human Rights Commission, dive headfirst into the topics of racial tensions at Brakenfell High and the arrest of ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.
They negotiate the fine line between a private social event and racial discrimination. They also consider what Magashule's arrest and court appearance will mean for the future of the ANC and the country's politics.
In this weeks episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team looks into the system of coalition governments which has caused instability in many of SA's major cities. They discuss why they are becoming more prevalent in SA and why they cause such controversy.
The team also tackles the latest from SA's longest ongoing political story, the state capture inquiry, where former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni's antics in the witness chair enthrall the nation.
Politicians continue to frivolously spend taxpayer money. Well paid, expenses covered by the taxpayer and living opulently, SA politicians are living the high life. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team finds themselves questioning the integrity of SA's politicians. They discuss the public works department's splurging of more than R226m of taxpayers' money to renovate the houses of MPs and parliamentary kitchens, perimeter fencing and "anti-ramming devices", despite a rapidly shrinking public purse and plummeting tax revenue.
From revelations of alleged “historical, personal, family and professional relations” to alleged subpoenaed bank statements, it's been a month of high drama between former president Jacob Zuma and deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo.
In this week's episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, Sunday Times political editor Sibongakonke Shoba, deputy editor Mike Siluma and political reporter Mawande Amashabalala dive head first into the tension. They come to the conclusion that Zuma's days of avoiding the commission and his criminal trail are numbered.
The Hawks on Wednesday arrested six people involved in the alleged masterminding of a R200m asbestos audit project in the Free State.
Hawks spokesman Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said that, "among those arrested are three senior government officials, three businessmen and five companies. The accused face 60 charges which include corruption, fraud, money laundering, contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (Precca) as well as contravention of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA)."
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team looks deeper into the the arrests and testimony on the matter heard at the State Capture Commission of Inquiry.
SA's ruling party has been caught misusing funds ... again.
The ANC this week came under fire and was accused of abusing state resources after a delegation of party leaders landed in Zimbabwe last week on a flight funded by taxpayers, for a meeting with Zanu-PF.
In this week's edition, the Sunday Times politics team discusses this and the ANC's various past indiscretions. They come to the conclusion that the ANC's “new dawn” is little more than a hollow promise.
Identity politics and covert racism have without a doubt been thrust into the political spotlight this week. In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team discusses the weeklong showdown between the EFF and Clicks over a racially demeaning hair-care advertisement posted on the Clicks website. They also dive into the DA’s new redress policy, which doesn’t address race.
This past weekend held an NEC meeting mainly dominated by discussions on the scourge of corruption in the ANC-led government. This follows media reports about ANC comrades, their family members and business friends helping themselves to personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders worth 100's of millions of rand in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses ANC NEC meeting review — focus on the meeting's resolutions on dealing with corruption.
President Cyril Ramaphosa needs to take real action against ANC members found guilty of corruption, angry South Africans said in response to the president's letter to party members on Sunday.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses the seven-page open letter, in which Ramaphosa said the anger of South Africans towards the ruling party is justified.
In today's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses DA leader hopeful Mbali Ntuli tossing down the gauntlet on Monday by challenging interim leader John Steenhuisen to four televised debates as the race for the party's top position intensifies.
The team also deals with the global embarrassment facing SA as a result of continuing Covid-19 corruption scandals.
The president was in consultation on Wednesday night before an expected move to lockdown level 2. But the decision, following the urging of directors-general, hinges on a nod from the virus command council and the cabinet.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the politics team considers SA's readiness to enter level 2 and what that may entail.
Damaging claims of profiteering from Covid-19 contracts have split the ANC's top brass along pre-Nasrec lines, as leaders squabbled at the party's national executive committee (NEC) meeting over the weekend about how to deal with corruption allegations levelled against its leaders.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses the latest allegations, the ANC's previous attempts at rooting out corruption within its ranks, and what we as South Africans can expect to see from the party as they try to navigate their way through the scandal.
DA federal chairperson Helen Zille has been at it again on Twitter, this time claiming that there are more racist laws under the current government than there were during apartheid. These controversial comments have thrown the DA's racial politics into the spotlight, yet again.
In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the team discusses Zille's tweets and what her presence means for the seemingly aimless political party. The team also considers the political killings that continue to plague KwaZulu-Natal.
An outcry and protests against gender-based violence are again gripping SA. This following an overwhelming wave of reports of women and children being murdered, raped and assaulted. As the outcry begins to reach fever pitch, SA's political parties are chiming in with speeches of outrage and condemnation. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we consider the comments made by various political parties on the topic of GBV and how their actions support their denunciation.
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, our political desk including political editor Sibongakonke Shoba reflects on South Africa's national lockdown thus far and how SA has responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Is our government to be commended or condemned for their sometimes controversial approach?
This week a full bench of the Gauteng high court pointed out the pie on the face of public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane.
The court cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of lying to parliament about the source of donations to his 2017 ANC presidential campaign, in a judgment likely to bolster opposition calls for the removal of Mkhwebane.
On Tuesday, the court set aside a potentially damaging report by Mkhwebane, describing the protector’s approach as based on a mistaken and “fatally flawed” reading of the law.
The judgment raises two critical political questions: will Mkhwebane retain her post and does this make the matter raised by the report null and void?
A fourth-quarter GDP contraction of 1.4%, following a decline of 0.8% in Q3, has placed SA in a technical recession for the second year in a row.
Load-shedding and the coronavirus outbreak mean that any quick improvement is unlikely.
In this week’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team says that the governing party is not blameless in having caused this situation.
Cosatu has warned the government that it will have “egg on its face” for wanting to cut the public sector wage bill, saying its behaviour in the saga was worse than the apartheid government's.
The SA economy is in trouble and the public sector has made it clear that it is not happy to bear the brunt of the decline.
In this week's Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the team is joined by Business Day journalist Mudiwa Gavaza. They get into the nitty-gritty of the politics that will follow finance minister Tito Mboweni's 2020 budget speech.
It has been a dramatic political week for SA. There have been accusations of murder, claims of abuse, insults flung and histrionic walkouts. This drama ensued during Ramaphosa’s 2020 state of the nation address and has not ceased since.
In this week’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly Podcast the team asks the question: Who is pulling the strings in the country’s parliament? Julius Malema very boldly assures that it is him. Our panel seems to agree, saying that the DA and ANC are bowing to the EFF’s will at every turn.
In this week's Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the Sunday Times politics team follows President Cyril Ramaphosa from the AU (AU) summit in Ethiopia to the state of the nation (Sona) address in Cape Town.
While shadowing the president, a theme has emerged as top dignitaries and political players call for the president to take charge.
2020’s political play opened up with a bang, as the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast hits your streaming apps once again.
In our first episode for 2020 the Sunday Times politics' team discusses the unjust calls for new Transnet CEO Portia Derby to account for her ex-husband Brian Molefe’s sins.
The team also looks into the DA’s loss of control in yet another Metro, as embattled Tshwane mayor,Stevens Mokgalapa, announces his seemingly forced resignation.
In the final episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics desk covers the biggest political stories of the year. Its members discuss what happened and how events are likely to affect the country's political future.
SAA continues to hemorrhage funds and politicians continue to argue about the future of the embattled state-owned entity. In this week’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast, the team has a heated debate about what ought to be done with SAA and who is to blame for the situation the airline finds itself in.
The team also confronts the contentious issue of coalition governance. Is it the future of SA politics or simply a divisive strategy that prevents adequate governance?
The Sunday Time politics team gets into the nitty gritty of the biggest political scandals of the week.
This week the team dives into allegations against EFF leader Julius Malema, who has personally benefited from millions of rands that were channelled to a company exposed as his own slush fund.
The team also touches on a leaked audio clip of Tshwane mayor Stevens Mokgalapa and MMC for roads and transport Sheila Senkubuge, which went viral. The two are allegedly discussing plans to fire government officials and engaging in sexual relations in the office.
In today’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses the appointments of new Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter and DA interim leader John Steenhuisen.
Both appointments raised concerns within the political arena around competency and transformation.
For more episodes, click here.
Chat to us on Twitter at #STPoliticsWeekly
Subscribe: iono.fm | Spotify | Apple Podcast | Pocket Casts | Player.fm
In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team deep-dives into the Kwazi Mshengu scandal. KwaZulu-Natal MEC Mshengu has been caught using an elaborate scam to justify his not using the state car used by his predecessor - instead blowing hundreds of thousands of rands in taxpayers' money on car hire.
The team also discusses who is likely to take over as DA party leader at the federal council meeting, set to be held at the weekend.
Debate with us on Twitter #STPoliticsWeekly
EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has earned the support of party leader Julius Malema, after the backlash he received for his controversial tweets.
Ndlozi was slammed by South Africans, including rapper AKA, when he acknowledged Springbok captain Siya Kolisi for the national rugby team's world cup win, but excluded the rest of the team.
Ndlozi said other members of the squad could get their congratulations from Prince Harry.
The Sunday Times politics team holds firm that, there is a time and a place and that Ndlozi should have held his tongue.
“All positions will be contested. All members of the EFF are available to take up the leadership positions. We are available, but not for positions we may not have the capacity to occupy,” said EFF party leader Julius Malema, while addressing the media on Monday.
Malema perhaps gave the clearest indication that he would be contesting for a second term in the top position as president, saying he did not have the skill set required for other positions in the party, such as Secretary-General and Treasurer-General.
With speculation mounting that Dali Mpofu is gearing up to contest Malema for the top job, Mpofu refused to answer when that question was put to him.
In this week’s episode, the Sunday Times politics team asks the question, could any other EFF members contest Malema as leader of the party and actually come out successful?
The DA is suffering a leadership crisis - Mmusi Maimane has resigned as leader of the party along with Chair, Athol Trollip just a day after Joburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba did the same.
The Sunday Times politics team takes the opportunity to dissect the events of the past week. What will these resignations mean for the DA and South African politics?
Join the discussion.
Sunday Times is a MultimediaLIVE production.
For political parties, the old adage “nothing succeeds like success” is so true. When you win, keep on winning and expand your electoral base, you’re on top of the world.
But, when you shed support and lose parliamentary seats, internal divisions are unleashed as personality clashes and the hunt for scapegoats dominate the discourse." And that’s largely the story of the DA, which is now in danger of a meltdown. This week the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team is joined by DA national spokesperson Solly Malatsi, as he tries to field their hot topic questions.
Political reporter Qaanitah Hunter speaks on her controversial cover story in last week’s Sunday Times.
Former president Jacob Zuma's son and Gupta business associate Duduzane Zuma says he is not corrupt, but a victim of a “political storm” in SA, but renowned Sunday Times political reporter Qaanitah Hunter says that the explanations he gave were rehearsed and bogus.
The Sunday Times politics team also discuss former DA leader Helen Zille’s campaigning for the party's most powerful position – federal chairperson — while insisting that she was asked to re-enter politics in an effort to help boost the official opposition.
In this week’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team discusses allegations raised against former police minister Nathi Mthethwa by former KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss, Johan Booysen. That he interfered in the appointment of Richard Mdluli as Crime Intelligence head and then unduly benefited from a secret service account. While Mthethwa has denied the allegations by saying that nothing that took place was untoward, the Commission of Inquiry is still hearing the matter.
The team also speaks on the decision by the Department of Basic Education's move to introduce an exit-level exam for grade 9 pupils.
A leader Mmusi Maimane on Friday dared his opponents in the party to take him on, proposing that the DA holds an early conference if they feel ready to oust him. Sunday Times politics reporters covering the story Aphiwe de Klerk and Zimasa Matiwane, are in studio to discuss the story.
The team also discusses the hype around the recent visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The Sunday Times politics team tackles two controversial topics this week. They discuss the EFF suspending and charging a female leader who questioned the party's instruction for her to turn down a seat in parliament. They also deconstruct the latest crime statistics, delivered in parliament on Thursday by police minister Bheki Cele, police commissioner Khehla Sitole and SAPS statistics chief Maj-Gen Norman Sekhukhune, which have shocked SA.
With violence becoming a norm in Johannesburg, the Sunday Times politics team shares their views on the recent xenophobic attacks.
The team also discusses Former SABC COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng's testimony at the state capture inquiry.
Tune in and join the debate.
The Sunday Times politics team has a falling out in studio this week, while discussing potential avenues for addressing the pervasive surge of gender- based violence in South Africa. This, after the rape and murder of 19 year old UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana.
In this week’s episode, the Sunday Times politics team discusses the ANC’s loss of control in the Kwazulu Natal region.
They focus on ousted e-Thekwini mayor Zandile Gumede, who has created a crisis for the ANC by holding on to the mayoral chains, despite a provincial executive committee decision instructing her to vacate office.
They also discuss former IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi stepping down as leader of the party, and what this might mean for the future of the IFP.
Although it was not illegal for Ramaphosa to raise money for his presidential campaign, there are ethical questions and political consequences at play. We debate the controversy around the president in this edition of #STPoliticsWeekly.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday vowed that the National Health Insurance is here to stay.
Ramaphosa was speaking a week after health minister Zweli Mkhize made public the NHI bill, which has been the subject of a lot of criticism. Most of the critics have pointed out a lack of clarity about its funding, questions over the future of medical aids and fear that health professionals and specialists would leave the country.
This week, the Sunday Times politics team discusses the controversial bill in depth. Are fears justified or should we be adopting a Robin Hood approach to critical public services?
This week the Sunday Time politics team delves into the report by the commission of inquiry into interference at the SABC.
They also navigate the tricky territory of the unraveling of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s 'new dawn'.
In this week’s episode the Sunday Times politics team discusses EFF national chairperson, advocate Dali Mpofu’s, statements regarding the future leadership of the red berets and the implication that it could indicate an EFF without Julius Malema.
The team also touches on the ANC's national executive committee (NEC meeting). The focus on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address where he set down the gauntlet to his opponents in the ANC leadership, daring them to try to remove him at the party's national general council (NGC) next year.
This week, the Sunday Times politics team delve into all things related to Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and her current woes with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This episode is dedicated to the testimony and strategy being deployed by former president Jacob Zuma at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry.
The Sunday Times politics team seem wholly unimpressed with the commission's lack of hard evidence, which they feel is allowing Zuma to evade pertinent issues.
In this week’s episode, the Sunday Times politics team discusses EFF leader Julius Malema’s controversial sex comments at this year’s Durban July. They ask the question; should politicians be more candid with the public or is a professional façade necessary?
The team also discusses the latest at the State Capture Inquiry, where former head of state protocol Bruce Koloane took all the blame for the landing of a privately chartered airplane by the Gupta family at the Waterkloof Air Force base in 2013.
Is former president Jacob Zuma trying to incite the ANC's youth to revolt against president Ramaphosa? In this week's episode, the Sunday Times politics team unpacks this possibility and its implications for the country.
The team also talks to the municipal audit results released by Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu, which shows only 18 out of 257 municipalities had clean audit results.
Finally, the team addresses President Cyril Ramaphosa's claims that it is premature for him to take disciplinary action against public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan.
Tune in:
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team discusses racial tension brewing within the official opposition, stirred by the party’s matriarch Helen Zille.
The team also delves into the possibility of drawing answers from former president Jacob Zuma, when he appears at the Zondo Commission of inquiry in July.
Finally, the team briefly predicts what president Cyril Ramaphosa will say in response to the onslaught of criticism he has received for his most recent state of the nation address.
Join the debate:
In this week’s Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the team look at the factionalism within the ruling party and the dominance this has held over local headlines.
The team members stress concerns that the ANC’s internal conflict has hamstrung Ramaphosa’s ability to enact change, and is also likely to taint the country’s upcoming state of the nation address.
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team discusses whether or not the mass resignation of MPs is indicative of a self-serving governing party, and the debate gets heated.
They also hotly argue the potential political interference at the National Prosecuting Authority, and finally they touch on top political issues to keep a wary eye on in coming weeks.
In this week’s episode, the Sunday Times Politics Weekly deals with more contradictory information coming out of the ruling party.
The ANC’s Secretary General Ace Magashule has stated that the Reserve Bank's mandate will be expanded, but according to the ANC's Head of Economic Policy Enoch Godongwane no decision has been taken over the Reserve Bank. The indecisiveness has markets quaking and the team asks: who should we believe?
In this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the politics team dissects President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet allocations. They discuss their concerns over several returning ministers, continued cabinet bloat and encouraging new appointments.
In this week’s episode, the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team discussed the selection of the 6th South African Parliament’s newest MPs. The team shows great concerns over the renewal of embattled political names.
The Sunday Times politics team reflects on the outcomes of this year’s national election. They enthusiastically outline that the decrease in the ANC’s national supporter base will not only curb the “arrogance” of the ruling party, but should also strengthen the country’s democracy.
Join in on the conversation:
In this week's episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, the Sunday Times politics team discusses some of the smaller political parties, how they were formed and if they are indeed viable alternatives.
Have a listen to analysis on South Africa's smaller parties prior to casting your vote.
In this week's episode, the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team discusses the resurgence of historically prominent political figures; including Thabo Mbeki, Tony Leon and Helen Zille. What does their reappearance on the national political stage indicate for our upcoming elections?
The politics team also addresses the ANC's controversial history, dissecting how the past 15 years have shaped South Africa's political landscape.
Take a listen:
The Sunday Times Politics Weekly team discusses allegations of "cash for votes" or voter buying laid against the ANC recently. ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s cash handout to a woman with an empty fridge could land him in hot water with the electoral court. Magashule was filmed giving R400 to a woman in Philippi, Cape Town, while visiting her home during door-to-door campaigning. The DA has since laid a complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), calling it a case of "cash for votes", which would contravene the Electoral Act. Mosotho Moepya, a commissioner at the IEC, said that for a politician to offer a voter cash could violate the law. The team further discusses the cost of state infrastructure upgrades, voter apathy, the controversial state of Alexandra township, and alternative options for voters.
This week the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team discusses the very latest corruption allegations against President Jacob Zuma. Just before his death in 2011 it is alleged that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi entrusted around R400m in cash to then president, Jacob Zuma, for safe keeping at his Nkandla residence. South African intelligence agents say the cash was later transported to Eswatini (Swaziland), and now President Cyril Ramaphosa has been asked to help recover it.
The team also continues their election coverage, this week dissecting the escalating crime rate in the country.
The Sunday Times Politics Weekly team discusses the most recent allegations of rampant corruption and gangsterism levelled against ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, this week.
The team voices their distaste for the ANC’s adamant denial of the allegations brought forward by Pieter-Louis Myburgh new book Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule's Web of Capture. They also raise hopes that Magashule makes good on his threats to take the issue to court.
The team also looks at the ruling party’s national health insurance scheme and its feasibility, in light of a dilapidated public healthcare sector.
The Sunday Times Politics Weekly team this week discusses the various stances of the top three political parties on land expropriation without compensation. Is the ANC only using land as a campaigning tool, how radical a concept is the EFF’s idea of land nationalisation, and has the DA missed the mark on land?
Join the conversation. Take a listen to this week’s episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly.
In light of a myriad of sexual harassment and racial scandals coming out against various DA members, the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team questions if the main opposition party is simply hypocritical.
In South Africa’s struggling economy, political parties have been bold in their promises for economic stimulation and job creation.
The Sunday Times Politics Weekly team critically analyse the economic stimulus promises made in the manifestos of the ANC, DA and EFF. The discussion raises concerns of discrimination in the financial sector, empty promises around increases in the national minimum wage, corruption and its effects on South African citizens.
In the wake of social uproar related to the alleged assault of musician Babes Wodumo by boyfriend Mampitsha, the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team looks to the manifestos of South Africa's leading political parties for potential guidance and solutions to the country's recent surge of gender based violence.
Join the Sunday Times Politics Weekly team this week as they discuss the approaches adopted by political parties in addressing gender based violence and systemic patriarchy.
The conversation takes an interesting turn as team members disagree about the role men ought to play in eradicating the scourge.
Join Sunday Times political reporters Amil Umraw, Aphiwe de Klerk, Zingisa Mvumvu and Zimasa Matiwane in studio this week as the pull apart some of the week’s top political events.
This week, the team discusses Zizi Kodwa and Pule Mabe after they "voluntarily" stepped down as ANC spokespeople amid rape allegations levelled against them. The team also discuss their disappointment at the lack of detail at this year’s DA manifesto launch and dissect state capture at Eskom.
Sunday Times reporters Qaanitah Hunter, Amil Umraw, Zingisa Mvumvu and Zimasa Matiwane discuss the freezing of Bosasa's bank accounts and the unbundling of Eskom in studio this week.
The four journalists find that South Africa faces a bleak outlook in the run up to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's National Budget Speech, due to be held today.
While nationwide loadshedding wreaks havoc on the country, Sunday Times politics reporters Zingisa Mvumva, Zimasa Matiwane and Amil Umraw discuss the impact the state of the national power utility will have on the upcoming elections.
Join Amil Umraw, Aphiwe De Klerk and Zimasa Matiwane in studio this week as they discuss the current progress of the Zondo commission of inquiry, what they anticipate from this year's SONA and President Cyril Ramaphosa's legacy thus far.
Sunday Times journalists Qaanitah Hunter, Amil Umraw, and Zimasa Matiwane take a look back on the political year that was 2018 - the removal of President Jacob Zuma, putting the brakes on state capture and the launch of a surprisingly frank commission of inquiry, the inside track of the Democratic Alliance and the Patricia deLille challenge in the Western Cape while taking a look forward to what is coming in 2019.
In this week’s episode Qaanitah Hunter, Amil Umraw, Aphiwe De Klerk and Zimasa Matiwane take a deep dive into the recent days of the state capture public hearings by Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan while reflecting on the EFF gathering outside of the commission in Johannesburg.
In this week’s episode Qaanitah Hunter, Zingisa Mvumvu and Aphiwe De Klerk chat about former minister Malusi Gigaba, the bombshells emerging in the State Capture Commission and the VBS Bank scandal.
Zingisa Mvumvu, Aphiwe De Klerk, Zimasa Matiwane and Amil Umraw this week tackle Cyril Ramaphosa's Malusi Gigaba conundrum, delve into the revolt against Sihle Zikalala in KwaZulu-Natal and take a closer look at Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's public statements.
Amil Umraw, Qaanitah Hunter and Aphiwe De Klerk debate the ANC's links to the VBS bank scandal, the DA's Patricia De Lille conundrum and Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba's sex video.
Sunday Times politics journalists Qaanitah Hunter, Amil Umraw and Zingisa Mvumvu delve into matters confronting the ANC and the EFF's growth at universities in KwaZulu-Natal.
Qaanitah Hunter, Aphiwe De Klerk, Zingisa Mvumvu and Zimasa Matiwane step into South Africa's murky realm of land expropriation without compensation.
Sunday Times journalists Amil Umraw, Qaanitah Hunter and Ranjeni Munusamy tackle the big issues of the week including COSATU's Congress, the state capture inquiry and Mmusi Maimane's declining of Western Cape premier.
This week, Sunday Times politics journalists Amil Umraw, Zingisa Mvumvu and Zimasa Matiwane ask how President Ramaphosa will deal with an alleged plot by his predecessor to have him ousted so close to national elections.
This week, Sunday Times politics journalists Zingisa Mvumvu and Zimasa Matiwane delve into prominent stories that made headlines over the weekend.
SA's spy bosses knew about the Gupta's state capture plot in 2010, but why didn't they act? Billions spent on accommodation for ministers; surely there is a better way?
We tackle these pressing issues in this week's edition.
In the first episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, journalists Amil Umraw, Qaanitah Hunter and Ranjeni Munusamy take a closer look at the early testimonies in the ongoing judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of state capture.