Democracy Unplugged

What will it take to keep women safe in South Africa? What's being done? Is it enough? And what real action is needed now? Siv Ngesi unpacks this with DA’s Eleanore Spies, ANC’s Pat Lekker, entrepreneur and activist Rachel Kolisi and MOSAIC’s Ronel E Stevens as they confront one of the country's most urgent crises: gender-based violence.

Is South Africa losing the battle against crime? Are we addressing it or just reacting to it? Hosted by Penuel the Black Pen and prominent voices, including DJ Warras, Kanthan Pillay and Bobby Petkov, Democracy Unplugged unpacks the root causes of one of the country's most pressing crises and what real solutions to our crime crisis could look like.

Is education empowering young people the way it should and are we equipping the youth for a future they can believe in? In this important episode, we unpack what's really failing South Africa's youth - and it's not just the school system. This conversation dives into the real meaning of a "dropout" in a system designed to exclude, why access and opportunity are as important as academic content, the rise of substance abuse and quick-cash hustles in the absence of hope, whether our laws are empowering or simply controlling young people, and how we can reimagine education to build entrepreneurs, creators, and problem-solvers - not just job seekers.

Can a nation truly thrive without nurturing its artists from the ground up? Brent Lindeque moderates this powerful conversation, 702 and CapeTalk’s Nothemba Madumo, music legend Sipho ‘HotStix’ Mabuse and Redhill School’s Joseph Gerassi reflect on how creative education shapes identity and preserves our diverse national heritage. This is more than just a discussion - it’s a celebration of creativity, identity, heritage, and the power of education to shape who we are. Podcast Party is a proud to be a media partner for Redfest - Gauteng's leading arts festival which takes over the Redhill Campus in Sandton from 13th - 16th June. Support arts and culture - starting in the classrooms - and don't miss out on this unforgettable experience of live performances, music, art, food, markets and family fun. Tickets available at https://shop.ticketpro.co.za/seller/redhill-arts-festival-bufn.

GNU - One Year On! Coalition or Collision? Democracy Unplugged explores this... Moderated by Phumi Mashigo featuring the ANC's Khalid Sayed, DA's Karabo Khakhau, IFP's Mkhuleko Hlengwa and GOOD's Brett Herron.

South Africa and the USA - friends, foes, or just tangled in a complicated dance? At this incredibly tenuous moment in time when the relationship between South Africa and the USA is under the spotlight, this Democracy Unplugged conversation moderated by Phumi Mashigo, dives into this important conversation. From Afrikaans farmers being offered refuge status in America, to dramatic budget cuts and now the South African Ambassador being booted out where does SA really stand? We unpack the drama, the diplomacy, and the deals shaping our future with our esteemed panel. Panelists: Brooks Spector – a former US diplomat, journalist, and expert on international affairs. With decades of experience analysing global politics—especially US-South Africa relations. Ernst van Zyl, Head of Public Relations at AfriForum. A prominent voice in South African political discourse – well now for his presence on X "Conscious Caracal" - Ernst is known for his sharp analysis. Thebe Ikalafeng, a leading African branding expert, strategist, and thought leader. Thebe has been recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine, 100 Most Reputable Africans by Reputation International and 100 Most Influential Creative People of African Descent...and that's only a snippet of his accolades.

What can we expect in 2025? From President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation address in Parliament on 6 February to President Donald Trump's South Africa "intervention, comedian and social commentator Eugene Khoza unpacks some of the political, business, social and media shifts we can anticipate this year with our esteemed panelists Jacob Maroga, former Eskom CEO; journalist/TV presenter Lourensa Eckard, and Associate Professor and Founder and Executive Chairperson of Democracy Works Foundation, Prof William Gumede.

National Health Insurance - Yes or No? That’s the topic of this special edition of Democracy Unplugged moderated by Penuel The Black Pen. Free Market Foundation’s Mike Settas, Democratic Alliance’s Michéle Clarke and Dr Confidence Moloko, who has worked within the ANC, dive into this topic to look at the goals and principles of NHI, its implementation and challenges, public perception and its future.

100 days of GNU… and counting! Is it working? Podcaster, author and YouTuber Penuel The Black Pen is joined by Karabo Khakhau, National Spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA), Ramarumo Mfulwane, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) Deputy Secretary General, and Vuyo Zungula, President of the African Transformation Movement (ATM), plus a live audience to discuss how far we’ve come after 100 Days of GNU - the good, the bad and the ugly!

To GNU or not to GNU? That is the question! Renowned political commentator, best-selling author and host Justice Malala is joined by Co-founder and Deputy Leader of Build One South Africa Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, and ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont together with an interactive audience to explore how far we’ve come after 100 Days of GNU and where we’re going. What are the most significant achievements of the GNU in its first 100 days? How do you assess public perception of the GNU’s effectiveness so far? These and more questions addressed in this two-part panel discussion with various political leaders and commentators.

Less than a week before South Africans head to polls for this pivotal election, thought leaders and commentators Kanthan Pillay, Katlego Moagi, Xavier Bapoo and Roman Cabanac delve into key issues around all the political parties and thestrategic choices facing voters. With pertinent questions from th audience, this is a last deep dive into the current political landscape to try and fathom what is going on and where we go from here. #Election2024

Democracy Unplugged – Party Lines on the Crime Crisis As #Election2024 approaches, how are political parties dealing with the crisis of crime that faces South Africa? The problem of crime is something where there is general agreement but what is to be done about it? Free Market Foundation (FMF) partnered with Podcast Party for this special episode of Democracy Unplugged representatives from DA, Action SA and BOSA. David Ansara , CEO at FMF moderated the panel with Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster (BOSA); Advocate Julie Seton (Action SA) and Fred Nel (DA). About the panelists: Adv Julie Seton From Action SA - Advocate Julie Seton - the team FixSA Member for Justice and constitutional Development. Julie has extensive experience in criminal and civil litigation and is passionate about upholding the rule of law. Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster From BOSA - Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster is co-founder and Deputy Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) . She is also the founder of the SA Women’s Commission and a respected business leader with many accolades to her name, Fred Nel Fred Nel has served as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since May 2009, representing the Democratic Alliance. He is the DA's Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport and DA provincial chairperson and Chief Whip.

In this special episode of Democracy Unplugged, internationally acclaimed podcaster Eric Weinstein joins Timothy Maurice Webster and Gareth Cliff for this dynamic panel discussion. With Eric as a leading voice in contemporary discourse, renowned for his thought-provoking insights on a wide range of topics; Timothy - best-selling author and speaker known for his expertise in human behaviour - and media personality Gareth Cliff moderating, the discussion proved to be a lively and enriching exchange of ideas.

What is the status of women in politics? Democracy Unplugged this week is an insightful and powerful exploration of the role of not only women, but also the part men have to play in building functional communities. Join moderator Lebang Kgosana and panellists Tessa Dooms, Anele Mda and Craig Wilkinson for this vibrant and constructive engagement. PANELISTS Tessa Dooms is a Director at the Rivonia Circle, political think-tank and author of the recently released book 'Coloured' that explores identity politics in South Africa. Anele Mda is a global speaker, activist and changemaker. She served in Parliament as one of the youngest members and is now an independent candidate for the upcoming election. Craig Wilkinson is founer and CEO of Father a Nation, bestselling South African author, award winning social entrepreneur, inspirational speaker and dad coach. He is passionate about the crucial role men and fathers play in the lives of their children and society. Lebang Kgosana is an award-winning broadcaster; creative consultant, entrepenuer and super-mom to six children,

What are first time voters thinking about the upcoming election? In this episode of Democracy Unplugged we delve into the perspectives of first-time voters. Shumikazi Radebe, Tayla Barret and Nkanyezi Ndlovu engage in a lively discussion and answer some tough questions from the audience, moderated by Phumi Mashego. The panelists bring diverse backgrounds, opinions and aspirations to the table, offering a multi-faceted view of the democratic process through the eyes of those entering it for the first time. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the voices of first time voters are more crucial than ever. Democracy Unplugged aims to amplify these voices, providing a platform for authentic dialogue and understanding.

In the latest edition of Democracy Unplugged, three arch-capitalists get together to discuss the South African economy, social class, global influences, politics and job creation. Dr. Jonathan Witt, who is outspoken on social media about many issues; media man Kanthan Pillay, founder of The Capitalist Party and Phumlani Majozi, social commentator and author of Lessons From Past Heroes agree and disagree on many of the most controversial issues of the moment. Well-known members of the audience also challenged them and asked very direct questions like “who will you vote for and who should poor black South Africans vote for in May 2024?”. The discussion is anything but boring and predictable

The very different worlds of Douglas Murray, Professor Ongopotse JJ Tabane and Gareth Cliff come together for this conversation to find common ground on important matters like corruption, international credibility and leadership. The conversation also led to disagreement on some issues with overall respect for open dialogue and critical thinking we would all like to see more of. Douglas Murray is the best-selling author of several seminal works about the seismic changes in European affairs and Western Civilization and an insightful speaker on many of the most controversial issues of the moment. He is a lightning-rod for the most important (and often divisive) matters of public interest, including Israel vs Gaza; trans rights in America; racial politics; free speech and international relations. Professor JJ Tabane (host of “Power to Truth” on eNCA) and Gareth Cliff (co-founder of CliffCentral and Podcast Party ) are both seasoned radio and television personalities known for their unapologetic commentary. Podcast Party is an online content hub where open dialogue and critical thinking are encouraged – where great minds don’t all think alike. Subscribe to our Youtube channel and follow on social media @PodcastPartySA

Jack Motlanthe opens up the floor for the in studio question and answer session. The audience asked the esteemed panelists their thoughts on, including but not limited to, the upcoming elections and the future of the country.

What is democracy? Is it time for a political remix? Join our esteemed inaugural panel - recorded in front of a live studio audience - with prominent social commentators and podcasters: Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh; Penuel the Black Pen and Mighti Jamie - hosted by Podcast Party’s Jack Motlanthe. Unplugged truth being shared here on the state of the country, and what the future could possibly look like. Join this powerful conversation.