This Is Politics SA Podcast

Afleveringen

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  South Africa’s Parallel State Is Being Exposed 20.08.2026 45min

  South Africa’s parallel state is back in the spotlight. Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack explosive revelations around spy technology, organised crime and the Madlanga Commission, and ask how deeply criminal networks have penetrated the country’s security institutions. They also examine the growing list of DA scandals, the party’s claims of clean government, and whether its credibility is being damaged ahead of the 4 November local government elections. And with South Africa taking over the SADC chair, the gents ask whether the region’s leaders are finally ready to turn years of promises about industrialisation, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation into action. From state capture to a possible criminal parallel state — who really holds power in South Africa? #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #StateCapture #MadlangaCommission #DA #SADC #PoliticsSA
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  33.6% Unemployment: How Did South Africa Get Here? 13.08.2026 42min

  South Africa's unemployment crisis has reached another devastating milestone — 33.6%, with millions of South Africans out of work and youth unemployment climbing to 47.5%. On this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya ask the uncomfortable question: why is South Africa failing to create jobs? Is the problem economic policy? Slow growth? Red tape? The ANC's ideological baggage? Or has South Africa's political leadership simply run out of ideas? The conversation then takes an even darker turn. Justice and Mondli examine the killing of Hawks investigator Lieutenant Colonel Franz Matipa, the allegations surrounding an elite SANDF unit, the growing number of political assassinations in South Africa, and what these cases say about the state of the country's criminal justice system. They also ask whether South Africa can afford to wait until the 2029 election before changing direction. With unemployment, political leadership, crime, corruption and the future of South Africa all on the table, this is a conversation about a country facing some very serious consequences. This Is Politics — South Africa's biggest political conversations, unpacked.
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  Madlanga Shows Politicians How Corruption Is Fought 03.08.2026 43min

  The Madlanga Commission has exposed troubling questions about South Africa's anti-corruption institutions and the people entrusted to protect them. In this episode, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the dramatic testimony of Andrea Johnson, once celebrated as one of South Africa's most respected prosecutors and head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). What does her testimony reveal about the state of the National Prosecuting Authority, the fight against corruption, and public trust in our justice system? The conversation also explores the growing diplomatic tensions between South Africa and Ghana over allegations of xenophobia and illegal immigration, asking whether the country is facing an international reputational crisis. From the future of the NPA to the effectiveness of Parliament, this is a deep dive into the institutions shaping South Africa's democracy. Topics discussed: The Madlanga Commission Andrea Johnson's testimony The future of IDAC and the NPA Corruption and accountability Parliament vs independent commissions Ghana, xenophobia and illegal immigration South Africa's international reputation If you enjoy thoughtful political analysis and in-depth conversations about South Africa's future, subscribe for new episodes every week.
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  Andrea Johnson Is Gone - But South Africa's Crisis Isn't 28.07.2026 37min

  This week on This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack one of the biggest political stories of the year as IPID head Andrea Johnson resigns following explosive testimony before the Madlanga Commission. What does her departure mean for the fight against corruption? Is South Africa finally confronting the networks that have infiltrated law enforcement, or is this just another chapter in a much bigger crisis? The conversation then shifts to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) — the institution responsible for managing over R4 trillion in public servants' pension money. With its board in turmoil and key executives suspended or gone, the hosts ask whether one of South Africa's most important financial institutions is facing another era of instability. They also explore: Why the Madlanga Commission continues to dominate South Africa's political conversation The growing questions around Crime Intelligence and accountability The role of Julius Malema and the EFF in recent revelations Why institutions meant to protect democracy appear increasingly vulnerable Whether South Africa is witnessing institutional reform — or institutional collapse This is a conversation about power, accountability, corruption and the future of South Africa's democracy. 👇 Tell us in the comments: Do you believe South Africa is finally cleaning up corruption, or are the problems simply too deep? 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week. #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #AndreaJohnson #MadlangaCommission #IPID #PIC #CyrilRamaphosa #JuliusMalema #EFF #CrimeIntelligence #Corruption #SouthAfricanPolitics #JusticeMalala #MondliMakhanya
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  Ramaphosa Fights Back As South Africa Closes In 16.07.2026 47min

  South Africa's political crisis continues to deepen. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the biggest stories shaping the country this week. They discuss: • Cyril Ramaphosa's court battle over the Phala Phala impeachment process • Why the Madlanga Commission has captured South Africa's attention • Julius Malema's repeated mention during testimony • Political assassinations and growing tensions around immigration • Donald Trump's renewed bombing of Iran and what it means for South Africa and the global economy • The FIFA Club World Cup and politics in sport As always, This Is Politics goes beyond the headlines to explain the power, personalities and consequences shaping South Africa. Subscribe for new episodes every week.
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  What Hill-Lewis Can Teach Ramaphosa 22.06.2026 40min

  Has the war between the United States, Israel and Iran really ended — or is this merely the beginning of a new chapter in Middle Eastern instability? Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack Donald Trump's latest Iran deal, ask whether Tehran emerged stronger than expected, and examine what the agreement means for Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and the wider region. They also turn their attention to South African politics, where newly elected DA leader Jordan Hill-Lewis appears to be moving swiftly to consolidate power, with John Steenhuisen among the first casualties of a dramatic political reshuffle. From Washington to Tehran, Jerusalem to Cape Town, this episode explores power, leadership, political survival and the consequences of decisions made far from ordinary citizens. #ThisIsPolitics #SouthAfrica #DonaldTrump #Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #JordanHillLewis #DA #Politics
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  RAMAPHOSA VS JUNE 30 17.06.2026 35min

  s South Africa races toward the controversial June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the rising tensions around migration, border control, government inaction, and the growing threat of vigilantism. Did President Cyril Ramaphosa's long-awaited address to the nation provide leadership, or merely repeat familiar promises? Why has public trust in government collapsed to such an extent that fringe activists now appear to be setting the national agenda? The conversation examines the role of corruption in South Africa's immigration system, the state's sudden flurry of activity ahead of June 30, and whether the country is heading toward confrontation or finding a path to de-escalation. The pair also turn their attention to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the United States' increasingly restrictive immigration policies threaten to overshadow the spirit of a global tournament built on openness and international unity. A discussion about leadership, accountability, democracy, and the uneasy state of a country facing difficult questions about its future.
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  The Shamelessness of the MKP and Mkhwebane 02.06.2026 29min

  South Africa is in a period of profound political, social and economic uncertainty. Rising unemployment, growing anti-immigration sentiment, crumbling municipalities and an increasingly fragmented political landscape have left many citizens questioning the country's direction. In this episode of *This Is Politics South Africa*, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya step back from the daily headlines to examine the bigger picture. How does South Africa's turmoil fit into a world increasingly defined by political instability, conflict and division? Are we facing uniquely South African problems, or are we experiencing the same convulsions affecting democracies across the globe? The discussion explores the growing tensions around immigration, the resilience of South Africa's democratic institutions, and the irony surrounding the parliamentary impeachment process facing President Cyril Ramaphosa. The hosts unpack the backgrounds of some of the politicians tasked with judging the president and ask whether Parliament is taking one of the most serious constitutional processes in the country's history seriously enough. They also examine the appointment of Rise Mzansi leader Makashule Gana to chair the impeachment committee and discuss what this moment could mean for accountability, democratic governance and South Africa's political future. A wide-ranging conversation about democracy, leadership, political hypocrisy, and the state of the nation. #ThisIsPoliticsSA #SouthAfrica #CyrilRamaphosa #Impeachment #MKParty #Politics #MondliMakhanya #JusticeMalala #GNU #Parliament #RiseMzansi #CurrentAffairs
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  The ANC Leadership Crisis Nobody Can Hide Anymore 28.05.2026 39min

  outh Africa’s political landscape is shifting fast. As anti-illegal immigration groups ramp up pressure ahead of their June 30 deadline, questions around leadership, governance and collapsing municipalities are becoming impossible to ignore. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack: • Operation Dudula and rising anti-immigration tensions • Why the ANC is struggling to find mayoral candidates • The battle for Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni • Helen Zille, Herman Mashaba and coalition politics • Why Cape Town keeps dominating the governance conversation • The long-term damage of the Zuma era • Whether South Africa’s metros can still be saved This is one of the most important political battles heading into the next local government elections.
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  Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni and the Missing Prosecutor 27.05.2026 39min

  A prosecutor vanishes. A magistrate throws out the case. One of the most feared men in Mpumalanga walks free. This week on This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the extraordinary courtroom drama involving Joe Ferrari Sibanyoni, the missing prosecutor, and the growing questions around South Africa’s justice system. Was this incompetence? Institutional collapse? Or something even more troubling? The conversation goes far beyond one courtroom and asks a deeper question: can ordinary South Africans still trust the administration of justice?
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  Nobody Wants Cyril Ramaphosa To Fall 19.05.2026 50min

  The Constitutional Court has thrown the Phalaphala matter back into Parliament and suddenly Cyril Ramaphosa’s biggest political scandal is alive again. In this explosive episode of This Is Politics SA, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack what the judgment really means, why the ANC is rallying around Ramaphosa, and whether South Africa’s political elite are protecting the President because they fear what comes next. From Arthur Fraser’s role in exposing the scandal to the ANC’s history of shielding its leaders, the conversation asks the uncomfortable question: if Phalaphala “stinks”, why does nobody want Cyril to fall?
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  SA ATTACKS: IT’S NOT XENOPHOBIA, IT’S STATE FAILURE 06.05.2026 44min

  Why are South Africans angry at immigrants and are they blaming the wrong people? In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya ask a controversial question: what was Cyril Ramaphosa doing visiting Emmerson Mnangagwa privately at a time when Zimbabwe’s political crisis continues to drive migration into South Africa? As anti-immigrant sentiment rises ahead of the November 4 elections, the discussion expands into Operation Dudula, political opportunism, and growing public anger. But at its core, this episode challenges the narrative: if leadership failures both in South Africa and Zimbabwe created this crisis, why is the anger directed at those fleeing it?
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  The ANC-SACP Split Explained & Corruption in SAPS 22.04.2026 46min

  In this episode of This Is Politics South Africa, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya examine the growing fracture between the ANC and the South African Communist Party, placing it in historical context and questioning whether the split has real political consequences. The discussion also turns to corruption within the police, and what it reveals about the state of governance and accountability in South Africa. With a focus on analysis rather than noise, the episode explores whether these developments signal meaningful change or simply the continuation of a deeper systemic decline.
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  When Impunity Meets the Law: Julius Malema Sentenced 16.04.2026 47min

  In this episode of This Is Politics South Africa, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the explosive sentencing of Julius Malema, who has been handed a five-year prison term for unlawful possession of a firearm. The discussion traces his political rise from the Congress of South African Students to leading the Economic Freedom Fighters, exploring the long-standing perception of impunity that has followed him throughout his career. The hosts examine whether his legal and political strategy backfired, the risks of turning a courtroom battle into a political stage, and what this moment means for accountability, leadership, and the future of South African politics.
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  Two Investigations, One Crisis - Madlanga vs Ad Hoc Committee Explained 24.03.2026 38min

  Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the growing crisis at the heart of South Africa’s criminal justice system. From explosive allegations of political interference in policing to the stark contrast between the Madalanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, this episode asks a critical question: are we still in control — or is the system slipping away? As evidence of deep-rooted corruption emerges, the implications for safety, accountability, and the future of South Africa have never been more urgent.
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  Why South Africa Should Be Concerned - A World Without Rules 10.03.2026 44min

  South Africa has had its Budget Speech and State of the Nation Address. Now the real question is: what kind of world are we governing in? Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the widening war involving Israel, Iran and the United States and what the open embrace of assassinations, regime change and brute force means for international law. Is the rules-based global order collapsing? If the bully wins, what stops other powers from doing the same? They examine the implications for Ukraine, Sudan and the African continent and ask what this era of “might makes right” means for South Africa’s foreign policy and moral standing. From global war to global disorder this episode asks a difficult question: If there are no rules anymore, who holds power accountable? Subscribe for sharp South African political analysis every week.
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  How Mokonyane and Zuma Made SA’s Water Crisis 23.02.2026 36min

  South Africa’s water crisis is no longer just about leaking pipes — it has become a story about governance, accountability and power. In this episode, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the collapse of water infrastructure in Johannesburg and beyond, revisit the failed “war on leaks” interventions, and examine President Ramaphosa’s growing list of task teams. They explore why Johannesburg could become the central political battleground in the upcoming local elections, reflect on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s delayed budget speech, and draw lessons from Donald Trump’s clash with the U.S. Supreme Court about the importance of the rule of law. From leaking pipes to constitutional power struggles, the conversation confronts a deeper question: who is actually in charge? Subscribe for sharp South African political analysis every week.
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  Betrayed by Power: Crime, Water & The Truth South Africa Won’t Face 17.02.2026 52min

  South Africa is facing a moment of reckoning. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his State of the Nation Address — but will deploying the army solve crime? Or is the real crisis inside the police service itself? Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack: The deployment of the SANDF into gang-ridden communities Corruption within SAPS The collapse of water infrastructure in Johannesburg and Soshanguve Ramaphosa’s growing list of committees The Khampepe Commission and the fight for justice for apartheid victims The moral crisis facing the ANC Marco Rubio’s Munich speech and the rise of MAGA-style politics From water riots to apartheid-era cover-ups — this is a country at a crossroads. Subscribe for sharp political analysis every week.
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  From Mandela to Ramaphosa: What Happened to the State of the Nation? 11.02.2026 58min

  South Africa heads into the State of the Nation Address at a precarious moment. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack what SONA is meant to represent —and why it often falls short. From economic drift, water crises and youth unemployment to the tensions inside the GNU and the Democratic Alliance’s internal rupture, this is a sober, unsparing look at where the country really stands and what leadership must confront now.
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  Ramaphosa Acts — But Is It Too Little, Too Late? 03.02.2026 46min

  South Africa has no shortage of commissions, reports, or shocking revelations — but accountability remains elusive. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the explosive interim findings of the Madlanga Commission, the unresolved truths behind the July 2021 unrest, and the disturbing evidence of police leaders protecting organised crime. They debate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s response, question whether decisive leadership is finally emerging, and ask the harder question many South Africans are already asking: if we know who is responsible, why does justice still feel so far away?