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 …

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 jo…

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. Madon…

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.Von TimesLIVE Podcasts

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 econo…

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.Von TimesLIVE Podcasts

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 b…

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi outlines promising economic plans that will “break the backbone of unemployment” like expanding the Gautrain for residents and plans the government of provincial unity has to make Gauteng a world-class province. Lesufi warns that the ANC is a “sinking ship” and speaks on the government of national unity. He exclusivel…

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.Von TimesLIVE Podcasts

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…

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.Von TimesLIVE Podcasts

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 define and scrutinise the ANC’s options for governing models, such as government of national unity [which the party announced as its choice on Thursday evening], a grand coalition and a minority government. They also look at the party's conflicting ideologie…

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 o…

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…

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 rebuk…

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…

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!Von TimesLIVE Podcasts

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 AN…

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 Af…

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…

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 …

Legendary storyteller Dr John Jahn Kani comically goes down memory lane into his theatre life and role in the struggle from apartheid to post democracy South Africa. He shares his story through a roller coaster of emotions like only a legendary storyteller can: he "shows" instead of telling. One moment he's hilariously funny, and deadly serious the…

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’. Groe…

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…

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 pr…

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 …

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…

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 re…

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 pres…

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 …

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…

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 th…

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-…

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 f…

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 elect…

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 support…

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 Politi…

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 brough…

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 alleg…

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…

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 Politi…

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 pr…

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 podc…

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…

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…

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 resig…

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 presid…

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 confide…