Sunday Times Politics Weekly

When will electricity prices come down? What will it take to make Eskom more financially sustainable? And what role should coal play in South Africa’s energy future? In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, host Mike Siluma speaks to Eskom board chairperson Mteto Nyati about the costs still weighing on the power utility, efforts to cut spending and the prospect of bringing electricity price increases down over time. Nyati discusses the change in leadership following André de Ruyter’s departure as CEO, argues that South Africa should not abandon black economic empowerment, and reflects on race and recognition in co...

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel joins Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma for a wide-ranging conversation. They discuss AfriForum’s dual role as watchdog and community-builder, how the organisation defines “community”, its critique of race-based BEE, opposition to expropriation without compensation, and what “self-determination” actually means. Kriel defends AfriForum’s engagement with the US president Donald Trump administration, explains the timeline around the US visa restrictions, and makes the case for treating farm murders as a priority crime. He also talks about the recent meeting with March and March, the “Kill the Boer” judgment, and relations with President Cyril Ramaphosa. An exchange on iden...

MK Party Johannesburg mayoral candidate Bongani Baloyi joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly for a wide-ranging conversation with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma. Baloyi discusses his vision for Johannesburg, including the city’s finances, service delivery, infrastructure, housing, economic development, security and the future of the CBD. He also outlines his proposals for restructuring the city’s municipal entities, improving revenue collection and maintenance, and expanding economic opportunities in townships. The conversation also explores Baloyi’s political journey — from joining the DA as a teenager, to ActionSA, forming Xiluva and ultimately joining the MK Party. He explains why he says his move...

In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, deputy editor Mike Siluma speaks to Tshwane executive mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. The mayor describes herself as a reluctant politician who actually dislikes the culture of politics. She explains how she moved from academic and professional roles in the DA and ActionSA into the mayoral office, and why she sees herself as a technocrat focused on governance rather than ideology. They discuss the city’s serious financial challenges, the corruption syndicates she has uncovered, her disappointment over the written warning given to CFO Gareth Mnisi, the impact of illegal immigration on mu...

Helen Zille is back on the campaign trail — this time aiming to become mayor of Johannesburg. The former Western Cape premier and long-time Democratic Alliance (DA) leader says South Africa’s economic hub can be turned around after years of instability, corruption and failing infrastructure. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, Zille speaks to Sunday Times deputy edior Mike Siluma about her plans for Johannesburg, why she believes coalition governments have failed the city, and whether the DA can defeat the ANC in the upcoming local elections. She also discusses tackling organised crime, enforcing immigration laws, the role of m...

Johannesburg is South Africa’s economic engine but it is also battling infrastructure decay, water shortages, collapsing inner-city buildings and fragile coalition politics. ActionSA leader and newly announced mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba, joins Sunday Times Politics Weekly to outline his plan to fix the city. Mashaba reflects on his previous tenure as mayor (2016–2019), what he believes went wrong after his departure, and what he would do differently if elected again. Host Mike Siluma speaks to Mashaba about whether Johannesburg can realistically be turned around and how. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for info...

The Democratic Alliance faces a pivotal moment following John Steenhuisen’s decision not to seek re-election. In this episode of Sunday Times Politics Weekly, host Mike Siluma speaks with political analyst Khanyi Magubane and veteran journalist Peter Bruce about the internal tensions that shaped Steenhuisen’s departure, the party’s challenges in balancing government roles and opposition and what the DA’s future might look like as South Africa heads into election season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cyril Ramaphosa remains one of the most skilful politicians in the ANC, analysts say, despite party turmoil. His ability to manage the Government of National Unity (GNU) and counter critics has kept him firmly in power, at least for now. Leadership decisions are heavily influenced by party power brokers and the intellectual capital that once guided its strategy has largely dissipated. Susan Booysen says: “He survived quite a few assaults and he’s countering the GNU critics quite consistently. Playing the renewal cards very clearly as if the fact that the ANC has dipped below 50% has not happened under his rule...

As South Africa hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend, business leader and G20 Sherpa Prof Bonang Mohale says the world’s focus should extend far beyond the drama surrounding US President Donald Trump’s expected absence. Mohale, who served as South Africa’s G20 negotiator (“Sherpa”), argues that the summit represents a pivotal opportunity for South Africa to reassert itself economically and diplomatically. Mohale says Trump’s hostility towards South Africa must be understood within a bigger global context, rather than as a personal or bilateral dispute. “Trump 1.0 demonstrated beyond any shadow of doubt that the president of the United States is...

Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader Floyd Shivambu sits down with Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma to reflect on his political journey from the ANCYL to the EFF, why he broke with Julius Malema, and the fallout from his stint in the MK Party. He responds to lingering questions about the VBS scandal, his meeting with Bushiri, and his expulsion from MK, while unpacking what “total freedom and emancipation” means under Mayibuye. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane sits down with Mike Siluma to discuss how the Catholic Church shaped her political awakening, why she believes the DA is destabilising the GNU and why Jacob Zuma’s breakaway to form MK was “an act of betrayal.” She also opens up about her personal journey and whether she’s ready to run for ANC president. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The launch of the national dialogue has reignited debate about whether the process can genuinely help fix the country’s problems or it is just another stage to advance elite interests.Political analyst and Public Affairs Research Institute executive director Dr Sithembile Mbete says dialogue has been a recurring theme in South Africa’s democratic journey.“It comes from this idea that we are so fractured as a nation across political, racial and class lines and that we somehow need to talk to each other to find a solution,” she explains.She likens the initiative to “post-conflict negotiations” but warns that dialogu...

Long standing NEC member Dr Malusi Gigaga has hit out at the party arguing that it is yet to start fulfilling its ambition to renew itself Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald wants inmates to grow food, make clothing, bake bread and work in factories to save taxpayers hundreds of millions of rand and promote rehabilitation. “All [prison] uniforms are produced by inmates. All the furniture in my offices — Cape Town and Pretoria — has been manufactured by inmates, so it's much cheaper,” Groenewald said. Though the furniture predates his appointment in 2024, Groenewald believes it reflects the sort of cost-cutting, skills-development approach he wants to entrench and expand throughout the prisons system. Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for informat...

Soon-to-be acting police minister Firoz Cachalia has questioned KwaZulu-Natal police chief Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s decision to bypass reporting lines, but says rules can sometimes be an obstacle.  In an exclusive Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast interview, Cachalia said he was “surprised and shocked” by Mkhwanazi’s bombshell remarks, which implicated police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya — both of whom have now been placed on leave. Produced by: Bulelani Nonyukela. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Protesting in South Africa comes at a price, sometimes a deadly one. From Sharpeville to today’s crackdowns, the state’s response to dissent has often been force, not dialogue. As the country marks Human Rights Day, the question remains: Why does standing up for basic rights still come with heavy consequences?

In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we unpack with experts issues behind police brutality and state repression. Their insights paint a troubling picture of a system where law enforcement is often used to silence dissent rather than protect citizens.

Protesting in South Africa comes at a price, sometimes a deadly one. From Sharpeville to today’s crackdowns, the state’s response to dissent has often been force, not dialogue. As the country marks Human Rights Day, the question remains: Why does standing up for basic rights still come with heavy consequences?



In this episode of the Sunday Times Politics Weekly, we unpack with experts issues behind police brutality and state repression. Their insights paint a troubling picture of a system where law enforcement is often used to silence dissent rather than protect citizens.

The Sunday Times’ Lizeka Tandwa spoke to Gauteng PTT Convenor Hope Papo about how they intend to turn around the party’s fortunes.

The Sunday Times’ Lizeka Tandwa spoke to Gauteng PTT coordinator Hope Papo about how they intend to turn around the party’s fortunes. 

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ANC heavyweight Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has expressed her disapproval of the government of national unity (GNU), saying that if it had been up to her, the ANC would not have formed a government with the DA.

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ormer president Jacob Zuma has laid out details of an audacious plan to “take back my ANC', by uniting “black” parties under his MK party banner and recapturing the leadership of the party, which he said had “deviated from our ancestors”. He spoke to Sunday Times politics editor Sibongakonke Shoba about various topics, including the formation of the MK Party and his decision not to relinquish his ANC membership.

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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 Times politics reporter, Kgothatso Madisa.

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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 joined Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma on the Sunday Times Politics Weekly podcast.

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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.

Madonsela said supremacists need to accept they are not superior to others.

“It's not always just about race though, it's [also] about gender. Anybody who was raised in that just because they look a particular way they...

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.

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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 economy.

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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. 

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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 brink of collapse.

Two years ago the president roped him in to help save the power utility. Nyati speaks about the plans they implemented to get to where there is no load-sh...

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 exclusively speaks to Sunday Times political journalist Kgothatso Madisa a day after he delivered his state of the province address. Lesufi says “we can’t have everyone coming here [Gauteng]”.

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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.

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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 issues such as racism, service delivery, the economy and crime.

Zille, 73, a former journalist at the Rand Daily Mail who exposed the apartheid police cover-up of Chris Hani’s assassination, also opens up about how she transitioned from journalism to...

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.

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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.

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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 ideologies and policies, the options for coalition partners and what it would mean for South Africa.

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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 of Zimbabweans,” says Maimane as he is quizzed by Sunday Times deputy editor Mike Siluma.

Zimbabwean citizens fled to SA because of economic turmoil and political violence, among other reasons, in 2007. SA had been a mediator...

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, with federal chair Helen Zille saying the alternative to being rescued is dying. The party’s election slogan is “Unite to rescue South Africa”.

Asked about his ambitions, Mashaba said: “Being president of the country or being a premier are the...

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 rebuke the IEC for not displaying her photo during the signing of the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Eastern Cape-born Mda tells us how she was bitten by the politics bug as a child and about her journey in...

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 our body politic after May 29.

Our guests this time are Sanusha Naidu, senior research associate with the Institute for Global Dialogue, and Susan Booysen, visiting Wits professor.

We hear on...

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!

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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...