SMWX

Vusimusi Cat Matlala continued his testimony at the Madlanga Commission and his relationship with General Lesetja Senona took centre stage today. WhatsApp chats specifically regarding Mr Nangy were also used to question Matlala. Thoko Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly, also faces a motion of no confidence vote brought by the EFF in Parliament. We unpack this all!

Vusimusi Cat Matlala continued giving evidence at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and today the spotlight was on his relationships with Mswazi Msibi, Steve Motsumi and Morgan Maumela. Matlala was expected to explain payments and loans with these figures. We unpack his testimony and the consequences for the greater scandals coming out of the Commission.

Modibe Modiba blows open Ekurhuleni’s deepening corruption crisis, revealing how alleged wrongdoing has left officials and whistleblowers living in fear. He also reflects on his career in journalism and offers a candid assessment of South Africa’s media landscape. _______ 00:00 - Introduction 04:08 - Early life and school experiences 08:16 - Building sources through journalism 12:25 - The changing...

Election season is heating up — and IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa could be one of the key figures shaping what comes next. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss the latest polling, the IFP’s growing support in KwaZulu-Natal, the challenge from MK, and the coalition negotiations that could determine control of municipalities across the country. Hlabisa also explains why he believes the...

Charles Molapisi joins us for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, endurance, business, and the future of South Africa. As MTN Group's Chief Technology and Information Officer, Molapisi explains how elite cycling shaped his approach to leadership, capital allocation, resilience, and decision-making. He shares remarkable lessons from completing one of the toughest amateur cycling events in th...

In this episode, we start shifting attention to the upcoming 2026 Local Government Election. We unpack what the recent polls suggest about the situation in Joburg and other metros. Will the ANC hold on, or are the polls accurate to sugggest that they are in for a horrid election?

IDAC Head of Investigations and Operations Mr Matthew Sesoko appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry today. He was grilled on his potential complicity to wrongdoing that previous IDAC witnesses have implicated former boss Adv Andrea Johnson. In addition, Sesoko's kidnapping ordeal was also covered. In this episode, we unpack today's testimony.

Suspended Deputy Chief of Police at EMPD, Julius Mkhwanazi has been arrested for the fourth time! This time, in connection with the murder and cover-up of businessman Emmanuel Mbense in 2022. Mkhwanazi is arrested alongside 4 other suspects. We unpack this breaking news story and continue to unpack what happened at the Madlanga Commission today with Ms Ramsamy continuing her testimony in the IDAC...

Vafa Naraghi joins Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation on identity, comedy, race, politics and what it truly means to be South African. From his hit show Becoming South African to his journey from engineering into comedy, Vafa explains why great comedy is far more than entertainment—it is a powerful tool for challenging assumptions, creating empathy and bringing people together. T...

Former Goldman Sachs executive and leading economist Colin Coleman returns to SMWX for a wide-ranging discussion on South Africa's political and economic future. He unpacks the country's weak economic outlook, the fallout from the Constitutional Court's Phala Phala judgment, the growing impact of the Madlanga Commission, and why he believes the ANC could lose most of the country's metros in the up...

IDAC Investigator Mr Mantsha Raphesu, testified at the Madlanga Commission today and it was not a good day for Andrea Johnson again. In his testimony today, Raphesu corroborated a lot of what Adv Ramsamy gave as evidence in her testimony. In this episode, we unpack Raphesu's testimony and what it means for the IDAC stream of evidence at the Madlanga Commission.

Drushantha Ramsamy, state attorney at IDAC, gave testimony at the Madlanga Commission. In this testimony, she provided explosive audio recordings of a telephone conversation with former IDAC boss Adv Andrea Johnson. In this recording, Johnson is heard speaking about the Madlanga Commission and making some strong statements about their unprofessionalism etc. In this episode, we unpack Ramsamy's tes...

ATM and EFF have approached the Constitutional Court for direct access to appeal the Western Cape High Court's ruling in President Ramaphosa's interdict application. The Western Cape High Court granted President Ramaphosa an interim interdict, pending the finalisation of the s89 panel report review set down for 2nd - 4th September 2026. In this episode, we unpack the appeal that has been lodged at...

Adv Andrea Johnson, now former IDAC boss, has been grilled for 6 days of testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. She has subsequently requested permission from the President to resign and that request was accepted. What consequence does this have for Andrea Johnson, we unpack in this episode.

NDPP Andy Mothibi has provisionally withdrawn the charges against Lt Gen Dumisani Khumalo, Brigadier Mokwele and others. These were charges that were administered by IDAC, and have been under serious scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission. We unpack the consequences of these charges of late and where to from here for IDAC.

Adv Andrea Johnson has resigned as the Investigative Director of IDAC, after she sought permission from the President and the NDPP to release her effective immediately. In this episode, we unpack Johnson's testimony at the Madlanga Commission today and her resignation from IDAC. We also take a look at the latest coming from the Cat Matlala attempted murder trial.

In this episode, a discussion featuring Arab Barghouti, son of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, alongside former Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal Azhar Cachalia. Together, they explore Marwan Barghouti's political legacy, the campaign for his release, lessons from the Free Mandela movement, the prospects for Palestinian leadership, and whether international pressure can help sha...

Vuka Azania, a think tank and advocacy group led by Adv Muzi Sikhakhane SC, Professor Isaac Shai, Rev. Dr Allan Boesak and Arthur Fraser, was launched. In this media briefing, the founding directors provide an overview of their mission and what they aim to achieve.

The Western Cape High Court has delivered its judgment in the interdict application brought by President Ramaphosa in an attempt to block Parliament's impeachment process from continuing. In this episode, we unpack the majority judgment by Judges Davis and Le Grange, the minority judgment by Judge Francis and the consequences that this has for the accountability mechanisms of the President.

IDAC Boss, Adv Andrea Johnson, continued her testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry today and she made some very important concessions. We unpack her testimony from today, as well as an update from the Cat Matlala attempted murder trial. Parliament's impeachment committee also met today to discuss the terms of references and the appointment of evidence leaders. We bring you the latest the...

IDAC Boss, Adv Andrea Johnson has appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry for her first day of testimony. Johnson was questioned on her recusal in the Lt Gen Khumalo matter, her "protection against self-incrimination" with regards to evidence relating to Major General Khan, the arrest of Lt Gen Khumalo and much more. We unpack her testimony, as well as the commencement of the Cat Matlal...

Former Speaker of the Israeli Knesset and former Acting President of Israel, Avrum Burg, delivers a scathing address on the Israel–Palestine conflict, the future of Israeli democracy, and the path to a lasting peace. Drawing on decades at the heart of Israeli politics, Burg reflects on the country's political direction, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leadership, security, reconciliation, and why...

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard evidence from Warrant Officer Mpangase, who worked on the Port Shepstone drug bust and was part of the team of SAPS officials that transported and stored the drugs at the DPCI storage room in Port Shepstone. We unpack his testimony and the in-camera application of Suliman Carrim, who is expected to make a postponement application in-camera next week Friday....

In this wide-ranging conversation, renowned academic, scientist and former Vice-Chancellor Prof Malegapuru Makgoba joins Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh to reflect on South Africa's democratic journey, leadership, governance and public institutions. Prof Makgoba discusses the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Nelson Mandela's legacy, Thabo Mbeki's presidency, the HIV/AIDS...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the Madlanga Commission to October 2026, with its report now due on 16th November 2026. Julius Mkhwanazi, Imogen Mashazi and others have been arrested. We unpack all of this and more!