Sunday Times Politics Weekly
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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. Producer: Demi Buzo.
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.
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.
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 mayor Colleen Makhubele opens up to 'Sunday Times Politics Weekly' about politics, rise to politics, ambitions to lead COPE, being fired on national TV and so much more. She joined, in studio, Sunday Times local government politics journalist Sisanda Mbolekwa on the podcast and talked about the caliber of leaders in Johannesburg city and the mayor of the city 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 was joined in studio by 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.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle was not intended to address South Africa's crises but to satisfy ANC factions. The president moved incompetent ministers around to make party factions happy and thereby undermined performance. Those are the arguments on the 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 to his cabinet, including appointing Paul Mashatile as deputy president, on Monday night but Gumede says the president missed some great opportunities.
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 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?
As power generation crumbles around our ears, experts are calling to have politicians ousted from Eskom's decision-making processes. South Africa in the throes of the worst power crisis in history and the government has again promised it has a plan to end load-shedding. But given previous empty promises, what is the country to make of government pronouncements? This is the question Sunday Times Politics Weekly host Mike Siluma poses to Pan African Investment and Research Services CE Dr Iraj Abedian and former statistician-general Dr Pali Lehohla. Abedian and Lehohla's reply is uniform and overwhelming: our politicians are not engineers, nor are they procurement or strategic planning experts — and they need to be removed from Eskom's decision-making processes.
As power generation crumbles around our ears, experts are calling to have politicians ousted from Eskom's decision-making processes. South Africa in the throes of the worst power crisis in history and the government has again promised it has a plan to end load-shedding. But given previous empty promises, what is the country to make of government pronouncements? This is the question Sunday Times Politics Weekly host Mike Siluma poses to Pan African Investment and Research Services CE Dr Iraj Abedian and former statistician-general Dr Pali Lehohla. Abedian and Lehohla's reply is uniform and overwhelming: our politicians are not engineers, nor are they procurement or strategic planning experts — and they need to be removed from Eskom's decision-making processes.
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
One of the biggest problems in our country is the failure of the state to provide quality services to us, the citizens – such as public health services, transport and education. This week Sunday Times columnist Prof William Gumede wrote that the solution lies in forcing political leaders to use public services in order to improve them. In this podcast, Gumede, associate professor at the School of Governance at Wits, and Prof Busani Ngcaweni, principal of the National School of Government, join our regular host Mike Siluma to discuss the proposition. Gumede defends and expands upon his argument, while Ngcaweni broadly agrees with Gumede but identifies potential shortfalls in the implementation of such a plan.
