This Is Politics SA Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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?

In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the looming question of whether billionaire Patrice Motsepe could actually step into the ANC presidency, and what that would mean for the future of the party and the country. They argue that South Africa’s political culture still treats ambition like a dirty secret, and discuss how the ANC is struggling to find a leader who can genuinely inspire voters. The conversation then shifts to South Africa’s foreign policy, as the hosts condemn the government’s silence on the Iranian crackdown and expose the hypocrisy of a non-aligned stance that too often becomes complicit when allies commit atrocities. It’s a deep dive into power, money, and moral credibility — and what it will take for South Africa to regain both.

In this episode of This Is Politics South Africa, we unpack the shocking naval drill off the coast of Simon’s Town and the deeper crisis it reveals in South Africa’s political system. We discuss how the military reportedly ignored President Cyril Ramaphosa’s direct instruction to exclude Iran, raising serious constitutional questions about civilian control over the defense force. We explore the implications of this defiance for the ANC, the relationship with the United States, and the growing politicization of the SANDF, while asking whether South Africa is sliding into a dangerous power dynamic where the military feels it can act independently. Plus, we examine the latest matric results and ask whether the education system is still producing the skills South Africa needs, or if the country is simply graduating more unemployable students. This is the national mood, and this is the future South Africa is facing.

2026 has begun with a bang — and not the good kind. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya interrogate the dramatic seizure of Venezuela’s president and what it reveals about a rapidly changing global order. Is this law enforcement, abduction, or something far more dangerous? And what happens when the world’s most powerful country decides that rules no longer apply? The conversation moves from Venezuela to Donald Trump’s return to hard imperial power, the erosion of international law, and the uncomfortable reality that South Africa’s leaders seem more animated by global outrage than by the deep crises at home — unemployment, violence, poverty and stagnation. This is a wide-ranging, serious discussion about power, hypocrisy, global instability and the choices facing South Africa in a volatile year.

South Africa is heading into a pivotal election year but with a public that is tired, sceptical, and losing faith in politics itself. In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack the fading relevance of the ANC’s January 8th Statement, the party’s electoral decline, and what the upcoming local government elections are likely to reveal. They explore how political theatrics have replaced substance, why voter cynicism has become so entrenched, and how trust in public institutions is being steadily eroded. The conversation ranges from Johannesburg’s political future and the DA’s internal tensions to the rise of the MK Party, the enduring influence of Jacob Zuma, and the global forces including Donald Trump that will shape South Africa’s political landscape in 2026. This is a sober, clear-eyed look at power, credibility, and what happens when citizens stop believing.

In this episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makhanya unpack a turbulent political week in South Africa. They examine the ANC’s upcoming National General Council and question whether it has any real value in shaping policy or strengthening leadership, especially as internal succession battles intensify. The discussion moves to the South African Communist Party’s threat to break away from the ANC, exploring the history of the alliance, the reality of the SACP’s influence, and why a split could leave both organisations weaker. The episode also looks at the assassination of witness Marius van der Merwe, who was killed shortly after testifying in the Majanga Inquiry. Justice and Mondli discuss South Africa’s long‑standing crisis of political and criminal assassinations, the state’s failure to protect whistleblowers, and the entrenched networks of organized crime. The episode concludes with a reflection on South Africa’s stalled National Development Plan, the failures of cadre deployment, and the broader collapse of a capable state, raising the question of what genuine state reform would require

We unpack a dramatic week in South African politics, focusing on three major stories: the ANC’s upcoming NGC and growing fears of factional battles against President Ramaphosa; the scandal involving the Zuma family, Russia, and 17 young South Africans sent abroad for alleged military training; and Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on South Africa after the G20, including threats to block SA from future summits. A concise breakdown of power struggles, propaganda, and South Africa’s political future.

In the debut episode of This Is Politics, Justice Malala and Mondli Makanya dive straight into the deep end. From the ANC’s high-stakes National General Council and whispers of coup plotting, to explosive allegations around the Zuma family’s links to Russia and the recruitment of young South Africans for “military training,” no stone is left unturned. The two also unpack Donald Trump’s escalating hostility towards South Africa and what it means for global alliances. A sharp, fearless first episode that sets the tone for everything to come.