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 ..read more

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 Zwe ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 hon ..read more

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 ..read more

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, w ..read more

Recently elected ANC youth league president Collen Malatji joins 'Sunday Times Politics Weekly' to assess SA politics and the role of young people and what he stands for. He was elected unopposed earlier this month after an eight year long leadership void. The episode hosted by Sunday Times political reporter Sisanda Mbolekwa and produced by Bulelani Nonyukela ..read more

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 g ..read more

Joburg mayor 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 local government journalist Sisanda Mbolekwa in studio on the podcast and talked about the calibre of leaders in Johannesburg and mayor Kabelo Gwamanda ..read more